James Paul Seaton

James Paul Seaton—known to most simply as Jim—passed away far too soon on January 20, 2026. While his time here feels unfairly short, Jim packed a lifetime of laughter, loyalty, and love into every year.

Technically born in New Haven, Connecticut (because that is where the hospital was), Jim was a true Bethany original. He was born there, grew up there, raised his family there, and passed away there—always proud to be the third generation to live on the same family property. He loved Bethany deeply, especially its rural character, and couldn’t imagine calling anywhere else home.

Jim was the devoted husband of Dorothy Seaton for 32 wonderful years. He was a proud and loving father to Kenneth Seaton of Frisco, Texas, and Andrew Seaton of Bethany, Connecticut. He is also survived by his sister, Nancy Seaton; his sister-in-law, Yvonne Milewski; and his nephew, Nick O’Connor. Jim was predeceased by his parents, Kenneth and Betsy (Carlson) Seaton, and his sister, Emily Seaton.

Humor was Jim’s superpower. He could find humor in almost any situation, and if you were having a difficult day, all you had to do was talk to him—he would make you laugh, or at the very least crack a smile. His comebacks were lightning fast, a talent clearly inherited by his sons. Dorothy never stood a chance, and she took it all in stride as the straight person to their ongoing comedic escapades.

An Eagle Scout with Troop 1 in Bethany, Jim remained actively involved in Scouting for more than 50 years, taking on many roles along the way, from Cub Scout Den Leader to Assistant Scoutmaster with Troop 931 (formerly Troop 1). He guided his two sons—and countless other young men—through the program, firmly believing in Scouting’s ideals. His favorite merit badges to teach were Citizenship in the Community, Citizenship in the Nation, and Citizenship in the World. Jim believed that everyone had a responsibility to participate, give back, and make their corner of the world a little better.

Jim’s civic-mindedness ran deep, especially when it came to the Town of Bethany—a place he loved fiercely and served faithfully. He was a longtime member of the Bethany Lions Club, eventually ascending to the role of President, and took great pride in giving back to the community through service and fellowship. One of Ken’s favorite memories is manning the Lions Club Car Show alongside his dad, where Jim could be found happily talking with neighbors, swapping stories, and making sure everything ran smoothly. Jim also served for many years on the Town of Bethany Planning and Zoning Commission, where he approached the work thoughtfully and with care, always balancing respect for the town’s rural character with a deep sense of responsibility for its future. For Jim, community involvement wasn’t an obligation—it was simply part of showing up.

A huge animal lover, Jim was affectionately known as “the animal whisperer.” He adored his Shetland Sheepdog, Finlay, and his two cats, Gibby and Señor Gato—brother cats and proud members of what Jim lovingly called his “med squad.” If an animal needed rescuing, befriending, or a heartfelt conversation, Jim was your guy. And while animals were his specialty, Jim was always happy to help his human friends too. Given his impressive collection of medical maladies, he was quick to offer advice on any symptom you might mention—because, as Jim liked to remind everyone, “I’m almost a doctor.”

Jim was thoroughly involved in everything his sons did. He coached both Ken and Andrew throughout their childhoods in baseball and basketball, and when they took up martial arts, Jim willingly became the practice dummy. When Ken announced he would wrestle in high school, Jim dove in headfirst, learning everything he could about the sport. The same followed when rugby entered the picture in college, and as a lifelong football fan, Jim took great pleasure in pointing out the irony that progress required passing the ball backwards. But for Jim, it was never just about the sport or activity. No matter what team he was coaching or Scout troop he was leading, Jim always ended by reminding his players and Scouts to thank their parents for bringing them that day—a small gesture that reflected the respect, gratitude, and thoughtfulness he carried into everything he did.

Jim was a lifelong history aficionado, with a particular love for American history. Attending Gettysburg College gave him front-row access to the Civil War battlefields, turning an interest into a full-fledged passion from that point on. On one memorable trip to Gettysburg, Jim, Dorothy, Ken, and Andrew marked the occasion with a family photo—everyone dressed in Civil War-era attire, with Jim proudly cast as a Union general. History was alive to Jim; it followed him everywhere on family and Scouting trips to places like Philadelphia, Valley Forge, Boston’s Freedom Trail, and Washington, D.C. Jim took his role as tour guide very seriously—delivering facts with enthusiasm, jokes with perfect timing, and ensuring that no historical marker, monument, or unsuspecting bystander was left unexplained.

Jim was a die-hard Rolling Stones fan (the Beatles? Who needed them?). He was also a lifelong New York Giants fan—although that loyalty was admittedly tested in recent years—and a devoted Red Sox fan who believed his actions could somehow influence the outcome of a game. During the 2004 playoffs against the Yankees, after the Red Sox won Game Four, Jim wore the exact same jersey for the next three games, refusing to tempt fate. He then wore that same jersey throughout the World Series—no washing, of course—and when the Sox finally won, Jim was ecstatic and made sure everyone knew his jersey deserved at least some of the credit.

More than anything else, Jim showed up—for his family, his friends, and his community. Jim leaves behind countless stories and will be remembered for his quick wit, kind heart, love of animals, deep sense of civic duty, and the steady, unwavering way he cared for the people and place he loved most.

Jim will be deeply missed and forever remembered.

Prospect Memorial/The Palmerie Family Funeral Home is honored to care for James and assist his family during this difficult time. Please leave your condolences, memories, and photos of James on his Tribute Wall on this page. 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of James Paul Seaton, please visit our floral store.