James (Jim) Lehman Koontz, 90, of Melrose, MA passed away on Tuesday, July 23, 2024, surrounded by his loving family. Jim, beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, was the second of seven children born to Henry L Koontz and Alberta (Quance) Koontz of Dayton, Ohio. Jim was preceded in death by his sisters, Doris Craig, Jean Liette, Janet Ganger, Jane McPherson, Shirley Kyzer and Thomas Koontz. Three of his sisters (Jean, Jane and Janet) were the first surviving triplets in the United States.

Born in Dayton, Ohio on July 15, 1934, Jim was a farm boy who "made it big". Foundationally, Jim was a caring, hard-working, successful, loving, generous and humble man. Jim was most proud of his wife, the family they built together and his work revitalizing and uplifting manufacturing based industries in the United States.

Jim met the "love of his life", his wife of nearly 63 years, Catherine Joy (Kinneer) Koontz in high school. Jim was from the west side of Dayton and Joy from the east side. It was the co-op program at Patterson Cooperative High School that afforded them the opportunity to meet. Jim always said "lucky me!" They both graduated from Patterson in 1953. Whatever success Jim achieved throughout his lifetime, he always credited Joy with being the partner who made it all possible. Together they raised an amazing family, led or championed many for-profit and non-profit organizations and traveled the world. They loved to travel, their favorite destination was Paris. Joy preceded Jim in death in March, 2018. They are survived by their four children, Mark Lehman Koontz of Stoneham, MA, Jill Ann Koontz of Boston, MA, Jennifer Leigh Duff of Melrose, MA and Bradley James Koontz (Tomo) of Sapporo, Japan.

Jim has 6 grandchildren who were the light of his life; James Francois Koontz (Jacqueline), Thomas Albert Duff (Mary), Emmaline Elizabeth Duff, Noel Barrett Duff, Sophie Joy Duff and Isamu Lehman Koontz. He has 3 great grandchildren: Hailey Joy Koontz, Harrison James Koontz and Odin Oskar Lehman Duff. He is also survived by his beloved nieces and nephews and their families and Sally, Tom and Kathleen Duff. Jim loved his family and his family will miss him dearly.

Jim enjoyed a long and distinguished career in the manufacturing industry. It began as a co-op student at General Motors in Dayton, Ohio. There he completed a four year tool and die apprenticeship and management training program. He went on to receive his financial education at Syracuse University. Jim held various manufacturing, engineering and management positions at Ford, Chrysler, General Motors, and ExCello Corporation (now Textron) before moving to Keene, NH in 1978 to join the management team at Kingsbury Corporation. He served as CEO and President for 23 years, retiring in 2000 after the sale of the company in 1998.

Jim served on numerous boards, including the former Indian Head Bank (Fleet Bank), Granite State Bank, Moore Special Tool in Bridgeport, CN, J. Lee Hackett Company in Detroit, MI, and Keene Country Club in Keene, NH. He was Chairman of the Board for the American Precision Museum in VT and the Keene Development Commission in Keene, NH.

Jim was most proud and honored by an appointment, during the Reagan administration, to the Pentagon's Defense Science Board in Washington, DC. and continued to serve during the first Bush administration. During his time in the defense department, he played a significant role in developing the National Center of Manufacturing Science located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He served as its chairman for the first 5 years of its existence. He also served as Chairman of the Association of Manufacturing Technology in Washington, DC for two terms.

Jim received numerous honors and awards for his efforts on a national and regional level. Among them "Engineer of the Year" in 1960 and the "Gold Medal Award" for contributions to global manufacturing from the Society of Engineering in Detroit, MI. He also received an honorary Doctor of Laws from the New Hampshire University system. He delivered numerous speeches around the world on the subjects of manufacturing and management. His work and his company, Kingbury Corporation, is the subject of a case study still used today in many MBA programs around the country.

Jim loved to play tennis, golf, watch and cheer for his beloved Red Sox and travel the world with his wife, family and dear friends. He was a member of St Mary of the Annunciation Church in Melrose where he attended Mass every Sunday.

One of Jim's greatest gifts and his lasting legacy is gratitude and joy. To Jim, everything and everyone was worthy of a celebration. Big things, small things…it didn't matter. He loved to make people happy and make sure that they were having fun. He always had big expectations; for himself, for everyone who knew and loved him and for every party!

Visiting Hours will be held at the Gately Funeral Home, 79 W. Foster St., Melrose, on Saturday, August 3, 2024, from 9:00-10:30 AM. A Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 AM following the visitation at St. Mary's Church, 4 Herbert St., Melrose. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. Burial will be private.