James William Shepard

James William Shepard (Jim), 80, of Chatham, MA, passed away on September 17, 2025 in the Cape Cod Hospital (where he was born) in Hyannis, MA. He was the son of Charles Herman Shepard and Winifred Walsh Shepard of Chatham, MA. He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Lesley Shepard, his sister, Winifred Lear, two sons Mike Shepard and Chris Shepard, and a granddaughter, brother-in-law Robert Lear, sister-in-law Pam Nester, nieces Mary Ellen Bettencourt and Kathrina Berk, nephews James Lear, Mark Nester, and Michael Vanscoyk, and a very large extended family.
   Jim was raised in Chatham and graduated from Chatham High School. After completing a bachelor’s degree at Trinity College in Hartford, he did graduate work in protozoology finishing a master’s degree at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. Jim graduated from Temple Medical School in Philadelphia, subsequently becoming board certified in Internal Medicine and HIV medicine. He had a long career serving his practice at PennPresbyterian and at two health centers in the Philadelphia Health Department where he was on the Quality of Care Committee.
In 2003, the Mazzoni Center presented to Jim the “2003 Mazzoni Award” honoring his outstanding contributions to the Fight Against HIV/AIDs. In 2013, The Eastern Pennsylvania Geriatrics Society presented “The Grace W. Harrison Award” to Jim for “Distinguished Service in the Field of Long Term Care.”
Jim and his family lived in East Mt. Airy neighborhood of Philadelphia where he very much enjoyed hosting his neighbors, friends, coworkers, and family. Jim thoroughly enjoyed the culture of New York City and Philadelphia, and frequently took his family to Broadway musicals, many restaurants, concerts and plays. In the winter, the family traveled to Vermont to ski with friends and family. He retired and moved back to Chatham in January 2025.
The Union Cemetery Burial (cremation vessel), on the Shepard family plot will be scheduled in October. There will be a memorial scheduled in early 2026.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Chatham Conservation Foundation, 540 Main St, Chatham, MA 02633, https://www.chathamconservationfoundation.org/donate or the Mazzoni Center https://donorbox.org/give-to-mazzoni-center.For online condolences please visit www.nickersonfunerals.com