Stedman, James Kessen

James Kessen Stedman, 85, of Glastonbury, Connecticut and Nantucket, Massachusetts, passed away on May 16, 2022 in Bridgewater, Vermont.

James (Jay) was born October 28, 1936 in Providence, Rhode Island. An only child to his beloved mother and father, Margaret Ferguson

Stedman and James Kessen Stedman, Jay grew up in South Berwick, Maine. He graduated from South Berwick Academy in 1954 and attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, from which he received a degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1958. Jay was a member of the Rensselaer Society of Engineers.

Jay began his career as an engineer for Boeing Aircraft in Seattle, Washington from 1958 -1961, and then worked as an engineer at United Technologies' Power Systems Division in South Windsor, Connecticut until his retirement in 1991. Jay then consulted for the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency (DARPA) and worked on advanced fuel cells for the Department of Defense and the Office of Naval Research (ONR). Jay provided immense technical expertise to project managers at DARPA and ONR. His vast knowledge of fuel cells, energy, and mechanical engineering was instrumental in many projects, including most recently the energy components of unmanned undersea vehicles for the U.S. Navy. He continued to work as a consultant for the Department of Defense until his passing.

While he was outstanding in the field of fuel cells, nothing was more important to Jay than his family. Jay is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Gladys, by his three devoted daughters, Pamela Stedman Farkas, Wendy Stedman Banbury, and Melissa Stedman, and by his son-in law Andrew S. Paul. Jay (Pop Pop) is

the adored grandfather of nine grandchildren: Arielle Farkas and her husband Daniel Lakhdhir; Coco Paulhenriot; Nicole Cooper and her husband David; Emily and Aidan Mchugh; and Sara, James, Sawyer, and Eliza Banbury. He is also survived by his cherished greatgranddaughter, Noa Louie Cooper.

Jay loved sailing, clamming, scalloping, and simply messing about in boats. He was a member of the Nantucket Anglers' Club and an avid fisherman who taught all his grandchildren to fish. Jay loved cooking and gardening, playing golf, tennis, and bridge with his many friends, and going to the theater and the New Orleans Jazz Festival. He was a loyal fan of the Uconn women's basketball team.

Jay loved life and sharing it with Gladie and his family. He felt he was a lucky man.

A celebration of Jay's life will be held later this summer in Nantucket.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation: https://app.mobilecause.com/vf/pfftribute/jamesstedman

An on-line guest book can be found at cabotfh.com