James S. Doland

James Stanley Doland, age 93, of Wayne passed away peacefully in his home surrounded by family on Sunday, January 22, 2023.

Jim, and his twin brother Bill, were born in Walkerton, ON to Stan and Iva Doland. While growing up in Smiths Falls, James attended Smiths Falls District Collegiate Institute and the First Baptist Church. Following his graduation, Jim received a degree in Electronics from Ryerson Institute of Technology and returned to Ottawa to work for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation as a technical producer. He worked there two years before being recruited by the ITT Corporation at which time he was sent to the Arctic to set up the Distant Early Warning Line (DEW line), during the Cold War. He was stationed at the northern most line some 500 miles north of the Arctic Circle just south of Banks Island for approximately four years. He endured temperatures of -60 degrees as well as 24 hours of darkness followed by 24 hours of light. This was a very exciting time in his life.

Near the end of his work in the Arctic, he was required to be in Rockford, Illinois for a period of time. He was able to find housing at the local YMCA where he met his future bride, Dorothy Strote. Jim and Dorothy fell in love, were engaged in three months and married six months later, on October 2^nd, 1960. In 1962, Jim and Dorothy relocated to Wayne, New Jersey where they bought a log cabin in Pines Lake and began attending Pompton Reformed Church. They welcomed the births of both of their daughters, Donna and Debra, and remained in Pines Lake for the rest of their lives together.

Jim was transferred to ITT’s Nutley, New Jersey, division where he worked as a Senior Quality Control Engineer. This phase of his career was focused on developing the first GPS satellite to be used by the US Navy’s submarine missile launch systems. His work required him to travel extensively and when able, he would bring the family along. He was an excellent provider, husband, and father.

Jim and Dorothy spent nearly every summer in Canada, at the family cottage, and hosted many guests over the years. Jim’s love of the Rideau Lake resulted in his acquiring countless boats over the years; affectionately known as his fleet. He loved the fact that he was the first person to own a fiberglass boat on the lake and he used his Glastron to teach many family members and friends to water ski, tube, and wakeboard. He also loved to sail and bought an 18 foot Sandpiper 565 which he treasured. However, the boat that got the most use was the pontoon which carried everyone that visited on tours up the lake for picnics or just a sunset cruise.

When he wasn’t out on the lake, Jim was inventing, building, puttering, or reading. He invented numerous board games over the course of his life. He built docks and sheds and was always looking for ways to improve things. He subscribed to a variety of magazines and read them all cover to cover. He even dabbled with writing. He wrote odes to loved ones and kept meticulous records of events that happened each day in his journals.

Jim was an exceptionally devoted husband, father, and grandfather. He and Dorothy cherished sixty-two years of a loving, Christ-centered marriage. Jim shared his faith in Christ by example. He was a servant who put the needs of others ahead of his own. He led his family with wisdom and patience.  He dearly loved his grandchildren and never missed an opportunity to encourage them to be the best they could be. He touched the lives of many people and will be sincerely missed by everyone that knew him.

Jim is survived by his two daughters, Donna De Block and her husband Michael of Wayne, NJ, and Debra Jones and her husband Ryan of Lombardy, ON, Canada. He is also survived by his six grandchildren;  Matthew De Block and his wife Taylor of North Haledon, NJ, Bethany De Block of Hoboken, NJ and her boyfriend Luke Boonstra, Natalie Kravacek and her husband Michael of Otty Lake, ON, Canada, and Madison, Rory, and Briar Jones of Smiths Falls, ON, Canada. Jim was predeceased by his wife Dorothy Doland, his twin brother William Doland, and his grandson Isaiah Doland.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Jim’s name may be made to the Pompton Reformed Church, 59 Hamburg Turnpike, Pompton Lakes, NJ, 07442.