When most people look at scraps, remnants and cast-offs, James “Jim” Grabowski saw possibility. A true artist, Jim-who passed away on Wednesday, February 26, 2025- spent his 80 years transforming the ordinary into something extraordinary. While best known for his bold abstracts and serene landscapes on canvas, Jim saw potential in everything- sea fans, fabric, wallpaper, gold foil, magazine clippings, and random objects he found on the side of the road. Trash to most, treasure to Jim.

Born June 6, 1944 in New Britain, Connecticut, ingenuity and hustle ran in his veins from an early age. As a young caddy at Shuttle Meadow Country Club, Jim would carry two golf bags for 18 holes, pause to sell homemade sandwiches, and then caddy all over again. After work, Jim would scour the course for lost balls, clean them up, and sell them from the trunk of his car. It was this drive and resourcefulness that led him to earn both his BFA (1966) and MFA (1968) from Central Connecticut State University. Though he taught art for several years, painting was his true calling. For over 40 years, Jim dedicated himself to his craft in his home studio in Marlborough, Connecticut.

Jim and Mary’s love story was anything but conventional. Set up on a blind date, it was Mary’s then five- year- old daughter, Dina, who fell for Jim first. By August 1, 1981, Jim and Mary and Dina made their bond official- not just as husband and wife, but as a family. The three made their home in Marlborough filled with laughter, love and many (many) roadside “finds” for nearly four decades.

Beyond his artistic talent, Jim was a man of quirks and humor. He never learned to use a computer and got his first (and only) cell phone in 2022 which he called his “walkie talkie” and promptly never used.  He loved listening to Roy Orbinson, ABBA, Enya and Cat Stevens tunes, grilling year around (he would shovel a path to the grill in the winter), and he would add corn salsa on, well, everything. He had both a sweet and salty tooth and could often be found snacking on Junior Mints and Salt and Vinegar Potato Chips- both with a frosted mug of Coke.

Jim is survived by his only daughter Dina, son-in-law Ted and his two grandchildren James and Eva as well as his brother Donald and his wife Christine and two nephews Jeffrey (Amanda) Grabowski and Bryan (Katherine) Grabowski. Jim is now reunited with his wife and favorite art critic, Mary (Grondin) Grabowski, as well as his parents Leo and Sophie “Sally” (Jaworski) Grabowski.

We will forever be able to look at Jim’s paintings and remember his tremendous talent and unique personality. His legacy is one of color, positivity, humor and the ability to see beauty in the unexpected. We will miss Jim every time we see a found object and wonder, “What would Jim have made with this?”

A celebration of life for Jim will be held at the Aurora-McCarthy Funeral Home on Sunday, March 16th from 4:00PM until 6:00 PM. All are welcome to join in a brief prayer service at 6:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations in Jim’s memory may be made to the Marlborough Arts Center.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.