Captain James F. Deucher USN (RET), of Bristol, passed away unexpectedly on the evening of July 4 at his home. He was born on Nov. 21, 1947 to Milton F. Deucher and Clare T. Davey in New York City, and grew up in Massapequa, N.Y. (Long Island). He married Virginia M. Lieblang of Amityville, N.Y. on May 28, 1972.
Jim enlisted in the U.S. Navy on June 5, 1967. Through the Navy Enlisted Scientific Education Program, he attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, graduating in May 1974 with a degree in Metallurgy and Materials Science. While attending MIT, he was made a member of Tau Beta Pi fraternity in April 1973. Upon graduation, he was commissioned as an Engineering Duty Officer in the U.S. Navy. In 1975 he received a certificate from Bettis Reactor Engineering School at the Bettis Atomic Laboratory in West Mifflin, Penn. Jim was awarded a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (Solid Mechanics and Materials Engineering) from the George Washington University in Washington, D.C. in 1978.
Early in his career, he was assigned for 12 years to the Reactor Materials Division at Naval Reactors Headquarters in Arlington, Va. He directed all aspects of welding and nondestructive testing practices used for reactor plant construction and repair, and was responsible for all program wide quality assurance specifications.
As director of the Department of Energy office at Norfolk Naval Shipyard (Portsmouth, Va.) for over five years (1986-1991), Jim was responsible for the oversight of all nuclear modifications, repairs, maintenance and testing performed by the shipyard. He regularly led his staff in reviews to confirm the readiness to resume reactor plant operations on overhauled nuclear powered warships and submarines. He participated in, or led, over 45 assessments as the lead reviewer of quality assurance, welding and nondestructive testing at vendors, shipyards, and other organizations performing nuclear work or testing.
Jim retired from the U.S. Navy in August of 1998 with over 31 years of service. He continued to work as a civilian consultant on projects related to the Department of Energy. Captain and Mrs. Deucher moved to Bristol in 2005 after numerous summer vacations with their children on the Midcoast of Maine.
Jim was predeceased by his parents; brother, William A. Deucher; and son-in-law, Michael L. White.
He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Virginia (Ginger) Deucher; son, Andrew Deucher (Alexa) of northern Virginia; and daughter, Meghan Deucher, formerly of Damariscotta and now of North Carolina. He was the beloved Papa to Lillian, Carson James, and Nolan White, and James Paul Deucher and is also survived by sisters, Margaret (Hugh) Bissett of Texas, and CM (Cec Snow) Deucher of Massachusetts; and sister-in-law, Cynthia Deucher of Georgia. James also leaves behind a large extended family including in-laws, cousins, nieces and nephews, and great nieces and nephews. He will be missed by U.S. Navy friends and colleagues from around the country.
Jim was a great cook, and loved going to the beach, reading naval history books, enjoying his Scottish and Irish heritage, and fixing his grandchildren’s broken toys.
Visitation and services were held on July 9 and 10 in New York arranged by the Arthur F. White Funeral Home of Farmingdale, N.Y., and the Strong-Hancock Funeral Home of Damariscotta. Captain Deucher will be buried at sea by the U.S. Navy at a later date.
Condolences, and messages for the family, may be expressed by visiting www.StrongHancock.com.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Marine Corps Toys for Tots.