James Francis Fons, 87, of Annapolis passed away peacefully in the early morning hours of December 26, 2025 at Anne Arundel Medical Center. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, co-worker, neighbor, and friend. His relentless positivity and zest for life will be greatly missed.

Jim lived the ultimate American Dream. He was born on January 16, 1938, and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in a working class neighborhood. He attended local Catholic grade school and high schools. Coming from a family of modest means, Jim was the first of his generation to attend college and he paid for tuition by working multiple part-time jobs. In 1960, at 22 years of age, Jim graduated from Marquette University with a degree in Botany, married his wife Barbara, and began working for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). Thus began an adult life full of adventure and service that was the envy of most that he met.

Armed with the friendliest disposition and a willingness to talk with anyone, Jim and Barbara hop-scotched around the world on work assignments to New York City, the Netherlands, Duluth, Bermuda, and Hoboken, before settling in River Edge, NJ in 1974 where they raised their family of four children – Renee, Chris, Ted, and Nancy. Nearly every weekend, the family would head off to local events and activities (hiking, skating, fairs, and cultural events) that provided a lifetime of memories. A new opportunity at USDA headquarters in 1987 spurred the move to the Annapolis area where the Fons’ have resided for 38 years. Jim retired in 1996 as a Senior Operations Officer at USDA.

Never one to sit still, Jim had a myriad of interests and hobbies, but cycling was a shared passion with the family. Jim and Barbara rode their bikes on several long trips including: NJ to Milwaukee, Seattle to San Francisco, throughout Portugal and the Netherlands, and they took many rides in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. Jim also rode 36 miles each day while biking to-and-from work in Hoboken.

When not cycling, Jim stayed busy with Volksmarching (completed walks in all 50 states), hiking (the entire Long Trail in Vermont), cross-country skiing, travel, yardwork, bonsai, garden railway, rug hooking, birdwatching, playing cards, and seeing live performances. Jim was a devout Catholic and a long-time parishioner and member of the Knights of Columbus at St. Andrew by the Bay Catholic Church. He was the president of the Annapolis Amblers walking club for ten years. Into his 80’s, he volunteered for “Chores and More” on the Broadneck Peninsula and served monthly meals at My Sisters Place Women’s Center in Baltimore. Jim was a fan of the Green Bay Packers, the Bowie Baysox, and the Annapolis Blues – where he proudly sang the national anthem with unapologetic gusto, even though his singing voice may have betrayed him at times.

Jim enthusiastically took up the interests of his grandchildren and extended family and became a supporter of the Capitals, NASCAR, the Boy Scouts, football, soccer, field hockey, choir and theater - just to name a few of the activities. He tended to have an opinion on just about everything and was always willing to share them, but he was open to the debate and secretly willing to admit that he occasionally might have it wrong. Jim did not give up easily and ultimately it was his body that failed him, not his generous spirit nor his desire to be with us. He lived an amazing life!

Jim is survived by his wife of 65 years Barbara Fons, their four children: Renee Trochanowski (Jim), Christopher Fons, Theodore Fons (Jennifer), and Nancy Farrell (Steve), his sister Elaine Klusman, nine grandchildren (Alexandra, Andrew (Sarah), Timothy, Benjamin, Amelia, Brian, Ray, Olivia, and Rosa, and four great-grandchildren (Susannah, Greta, Caroline, and Luke).

Those wishing to make a memorial contribution are encouraged to plant a tree in Jim’s honor or make a donation to My Sister’s Place Women’s Center in Baltimore.

There will be a funeral mass at St. Andrew by the Bay on January 16 (Jim’s birthday) at 11:00 am. A reception will follow. Interment will take place privately. Online condolences may be made at www.barrancofuneralhome.com