James C. Compton, Jr.

James Compton Jr., 72, of Berlin and Boylston died peacefully in his home on October 23rd, 2025, surrounded by loved ones after a long battle with cancer. 

He was the husband of Nancy (Bartlett) Compton to whom he’d been married to for over 42 years and son of the late Joanne (Materia) Compton and James Compton Sr.

Besides his wife and his father, James is survived by his children, Leanne Kennis of Boylston, Stephanie Johnson and her husband Shane of Boylston, his grandchildren, Declan, Scarlett, Jackson, and Avery who called him Bumpy, and his siblings Mike Compton and his wife Roseanne of Shrewsbury, Eddie Compton of Marlborough, Cathy Tierney and her husband Doug of Stow, his brother-in-law Dennis Bartlett of Berlin and his late wife Janet Bartlett, late brother-in-law Bruce Bartlett of Berlin and his wife Judy Bartlett, sister-in-law Sue Ohmart of Hinsdale, NH, and many nieces and nephews.

Jim was a sports enthusiast and a natural athlete from a very young age. He grew up playing baseball with his brothers and best friend Mike Parrish. His father was their Little League coach and he also did gymnastics. He loved to play racquetball and tennis at the Wayside Athletics club in Marlborough and played on the softball team for the Oxford restaurant where he was a bartender for many years. But once he learned to play golf, the rest was history! He was hooked for many years, and as the extraordinary athlete that he was he shot a 77 at a Cape Cod golf course and had a handicap of 10. Wherever he traveled, he was sure to find a golf course to play. He played the most beautiful and well regarded courses in the world, including Pebble Beach. When he eventually stopped playing golf because of cancer, he refused to give up on sports, something he loved for his entire life, so he became an avid pickleball player. He, of course, became a well known and respected player locally as he played in the Westborough league and that is where he met Father Diego. 

Jim was a family man through and through and loved his "girls" with every part of his being. There was nothing he couldn't fix or provide his wife Nancy and beloved daughters Leanne and Stephanie. It was his life's work. He was active in the First Parish Church of Berlin and worked for many years at Lance Corporation in Hudson and then Staples in Sudbury. He loved vacationing on the Cape in Brewster, enjoyed the beach, but his favorite was Disney World. The family vacationed regularly to the Carribean Resort with his brother Mike and wife Rose, and their children Danielle, Alex, Sydney, and Julia. Disney was perhaps the one place on earth he felt he could be a kid again with the ones he loved most. Jim renewed his vows to Nancy a few years ago at the Polynesian Resort in Disney in a heartfelt ceremony. 

Jim will be missed deeply by the many people who loved him and the lives he touched. 

A graveside service for James will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, October 30th, 2025, at South Cemetery, Pleasant Street, Berlin, MA 01503. Flower donations may be made to James’ family by selecting the “send flowers” link on www.slatteryfuneralhome.com or a donation to Saint Luke’s Church, 70 W Main Street, Westborough, MA 01581, or to donate online visit https://stlukes-parish.org/ and select the contribution link.

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