HAVERHILL - James F. Waldron, 85, of Haverhill, passed away on Friday, April 18, 2014 after a short illness.

Jim was born in Swampscott, Massachusetts in 1928 to the late James T. Waldron and Helen (Fleming) Waldron. He was a graduate of St. John's Prep in Danvers. Jim was a Double Eagle of Boston College, with both an undergraduate and Law Degree. Jim served his country during the Korean War Era.

He was Mayor of Haverhill from 1968 to 1971, when he was elected as the first "real mayor" under the current form of city government. His tenure as Mayor and his successful law career brought about important changes to Haverhill by modernizing the downtown area, as well as adding businesses that brought revenue to the city. Jim was the go to guy if you wanted something done in Haverhill! In 2013, he was named Haverhill's Irishman of the Year. One of Jim's favorite times of the year was the annual family reunion weekend on Cape Cod, where he was the founder and lifetime President of the Lemmings Swimming Association.

Jim is survived by his wife of 36 years, Diane (Doran) Waldron, his sister, Helen Flynn, his daughters, Virginia Waldron, Maureen Mount, Patricia Johnson and Mary Jane Stevens, his grandchildren, Jennifer, Robert, Jeremy, Katie, Philip, Andrew, Laura, Kevin and Timothy and his great-grandchildren, Lily, Collin, Sophia and Addison. He is also survived by his nephew, John Patrick Flynn, and sons-in-law, Chip Mount, Mark Johnson and Michael Stevens. He was predeceased by his sister, Mary T. Waldron.

His funeral will be held Thursday morning, April 24, beginning in the Driscoll Funeral Home, 309 So. Main Street, (Rte. 125), Bradford at 8:00 AM. Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in Sacred Hearts Church, 165 So. Main Street, Bradford at 9:00 AM. United States Army Honors will be rendered following his Mass. Jim will be laid to rest in Claremorris, County Mayo, Ireland.

Visiting hours will be Wednesday in the funeral home from 3:00 to 7:00 PM.

Courtesy local transportation will be provided on request to the visitation by calling Patrick Driscoll at (978) 374-0000.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Jim's memory to the Jimmy Fund http://www.jimmyfundwalk.org/2014/kstevens or Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation www.jdrf.org (donate to a walker: Andrew Mount).