WELLS, James R., Colonel, USMCR(Ret), a forever member of "the few, the proud, the Marines", passed away on March 14, 2026, aged 101 years, at Boynton Beach, FL, thus joining his beloved wife Dottie who predeceased him in 2010. He is survived by his children James R. Wells, Jr. of Deerfield Beach, FL, Nicholas M. (Renee) Wells of Boynton Beach, FL, and Phoebe (Tadek Gaj) Wells, R.N., of Cambridge, MA. He is also survived by seven grandchildren, Jennifer Jaquith, James Wells III, Nicholas Wells Jr., Erin DiGigandi, and Dr. Eoin, Daire, and Cormac Gaj. Additionally, he is survived by eight great-grandchildren: Jason and Matthew Jaquith, Andrew Schaefer, Alexander Wells, Sofia and Mateo Wells, Everett and Juniper Gaj.

Jim was born in New York City and raised in Great Neck on Long Island, NY. He attended the Kensington Elementary School and Great Neck High School, and enjoyed summers at his grandmother's home on the Jersey shore. He graduated in 1942 and attended Princeton majoring in political science. He worked his way through college waiting tables in the dining halls and amateur wresting under the name of Rocky Redner. He loved his time at Princeton, and while there he ran track for Princeton, became fluent in French, collected etchings, played the piano at events, and fully immersed himself in that rich environment. He graduated from Princeton in 1946.

During World War II Jim enlisted in the Marine Corps, attending boot camp at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Paris Island, South Carolina. Returning to Princeton he was commissioned in the Marine Corps via the V-12 program for what became a second career of 34 years in the Reserves.

After the war and graduating from Princeton Jim returned to Great Neck, and in 1947 he married Dorothy (Dottie) McKechnie also from Great Neck. He began working in his father's home heating oil business Wells Fuel. He and Dottie soon had 2 sons, James Jr and Nicholas. In 1950 however Jim was called back into active duty and sent to serve in the Korean War for nearly 2 years. When he returned he resumed family life and took over running Wells Fuel because both of his parents were in poor health. Jim and his family moved to Port Washington on Long Island. They became active members of the Port Washington Yacht Club, and after taking night classes in navigation Jim bought first the Fisherman and later the Leatherneck boats and enjoyed weekend trips around to points all around Long Island Sound. As the family expanded to include Phoebe they moved to Manhasset on Long Island.

Jim had always been intensely interested in politics, and in 1960 he was elected Town Councilman for the first of three terms. Despite his busy home life, running Wells Fuel, being a lay reader at All Saints Church, and councilman duties Jim still carved out time to become an excellent golfer at North Hempstead Country Club and played judo at the New York Athletic Club. Jim also served on several boards of trustees such Nassau Community College and the local MS Foundation. In addition Jim had leadership roles in the Masons, the Elks, and Shriners. He continued to play the piano and organ, and he and Dottie enjoyed season tickets to the Metropolitan Opera.

In 1969 Jim suffered a badly broken leg when trying to walk the 4 miles from home to Wells Fuel after a blizzard. The accident led to a number of life threatening complications so at the ripe old age of 44 he sold the oil business and attempted to retire. Unsurprisingly this did not last, and by 1971 he was appointed the Commissioner of Commerce and Industry for Nassau County on Long Island. Two of his largest projects were the development of Mitchel Field and the construction of the Nassau Veteran's Memorial Coliseum. He later was promoted to Commissioner of General Services, and during this time he also got his real estate license and completed a Master's degree in taxation at C.W. Post at Long Island University. With the election of a new county executive Jim left politics and became the Director of the New York Oil Heat Association in Manhattan. He and Dottie also enjoyed several trips to Europe especially enjoying Scotland, England, France, Switzerland, and Denmark.

Jim and Dottie had always loved vacationing in Florida and the Caribbean, and in 1980 they bought a second home in Delray Beach, Florida. Jim continued to "snowbird" while working at NYOHA, and eventually he and Dottie moved to Quail Ridge in Boynton Beach. Jim again attempted retirement in 1989, but this too was short lived. He decided to resurrect his college dream of attending law school. Despite being older than some of his professors at Nova Southeastern University Jim threw himself into his studies and graduated in 1993 specializing in elder law. Even though he didn't look the part of a junior partner he began working with Jim Nowlin before moving to an independent practice. He was very well respected in his community and continued working for 25 years. He finally retired for good at the tender young age of 95. He toyed with the idea of taking up the banjo but found the arthritis in his hands prevented him from playing as well as he liked.

Even in retirement Jim stayed extremely busy. He celebrated over 40 years of sobriety in AA and cherished his fellow members. He founded the Eagles Club of retired Marine colonels and Navy captains and organized their monthly gatherings. He also regularly attended the Palm Beach Navy League monthly meetings. He and Dottie were founding members of Saint Mary the Virgin Anglican Church in Delray Beach, and Jim remained very active in the church for the rest of his life. Jim had retired from golf as well but was committed to working out with a personal trainer even up to the last month of his life. He is the only person we know who outlived a life insurance policy and used the money to buy himself a bicycle. He was devoted to his family which had expanded to 7 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren most of whom also lived in southeast Florida. He loved hosting family holiday meals - nothing made him happier than looking round a big table of 4 generations gathered together.

Jim was a vibrant man, always curious and interested in learning new things. He was widely read and could easily quote the Bible, Shakespeare, a variety of poems, and his favorite, Winston Churchill - particularly "Never, never, never give up!" He adored his family and was deeply committed to his colleagues and friends. Even as he battled metastatic cancer for 4 years he would enter the treatment room with a cheerful "Hello, ladies! I'm here to brighten up your day!" And he did.

In lieu of flowers, for those wishing to make a memorial gift the family would appreciate contributions either to the St. Mary the Virgin Anglican Church , P.O. Box 6879, Delray Beach, FL 33482, or to the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation , 1775 Semper Fidelis Way, Triangle, VA 22142.