Please enter a minimum of 2 characters to search.
Please enter a minimum of 2 characters to search.
Memorial Keepers(2)
They manage this memorial. Contact or join
James Robert Greaves
November 16th, 1938 - January 17th, 2026
November 16th, 1938 - January 17th, 2026
In Loving Memory of James Robert Greaves
James Robert Greaves was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on November 16, 1938. He graduated from the University of Pittsburgh on scholarship and attended the University of Minnesota where he received an MS in Physics. As a post-graduate, he worked at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute in Massachusetts which instilled in him a life-long love of the ocean as one of our planet’s last frontiers.
In 1962, hired by Allied Research in Concord, Massachusetts, he worked for 10 years on research projects dealing with in oceanography and meteorology. In 1971 he moved to NASA Goddard in Maryland where he served as Program Manager of the weather satellites and lastly as Associate Director of Flight Systems at Goddard. In 1988 he traveled to Antarctica as a team member to work on a project sponsored by the National Science Foundation.
Jim retired in 2012 having loved every aspect of his career at NASA. He was a greatly-loved husband, father, and grandfather of 6 who will be dearly missed.
Create an event page to coordinate a gathering in honor of James
Tributes
Share a favorite memory, send condolences, and honor James’s life with a heartfelt message.
Nancy Mauer
Jim, Dottie and Joan moved in next door when I was around ten and Joan was about three. Instant good neighbors, they tolerated my ever-present self, and he cheekily nicknamed me “Gertrude.” He drove a cool car (I wasn’t cool enough to know *how* cool, but it was a gorgeous metallic green convertible!) I was trusted to watch their children, and they were the first to treat me like a grown-up. Many wonderful memories were made on that block, and Mr. Greaves was a calm and steady mentor and gentleman.
Aubrey Greaves
My grandpa was the kind of person whose presence made everything feel steadier. He didn’t always need to say much, just being near him felt like being safe. He carried wisdom in quiet ways, through stories, habits, and the way he showed up for the people he loved. My grandpa’s love didn’t end with his life. It lives on in the values he passed down, the memories he gave us, and the way he shaped who I am today. I carry him with me in everything I do, and I always will. I keep thinking about the walks around your neighborhood when we were little. My brothers and I walking beside you and grandma, taking our time, feeling safe just because you were there. Those walks meant more than we ever knew. I remember you helping me ride my tricycle and pushing me along until I felt brave enough to do it myself. I remember the old hobby horse in the backyard and how you made something so simple feel fun and special. You made time for those moments, made them feel important, even though you probably didn’t realize how much they’d stay with me. Grandpa, thank you for loving us the way you did. Thank you for every moment you showed up, even when you didn’t realize how much it mattered. Thank you for believing in me. Thank you for the stories you told, some repeated more than once, and the way they somehow never got old. I remember how you cared in ways that felt effortless. How you noticed things others didn’t. How you made people feel important just by listening. Those memories are stitched into who I am now, and I carry them with me every day. Thank you for being my grandpa. I miss you more than words can explain, but I’m grateful beyond words that I get to be your granddaughter. I hope I am making you proud and I promise to carry on your legacy. You are deeply missed everyday, and you will never be forgotten. I love you forever ❤️ - Aubrey
Vicky Wood
Jim Greaves was a gentle soul, patient and kind. He had to be patient to listen to all those piano students of Dottie's trying their best to make music over the years. To his credit, I never once saw him cover his ears and wince during one of my lessons (though he may have wanted to). He was an appreciator of music of all kinds and introduced me to K.T. Oslin, a country singer with a keen sense of humor. It's clear that this "nerd" had many sides. When asked how he was, he had a standard answer. "Peachy." And he was. I enjoyed his company and I will miss him.
Copyright © 2026 Keeper Memorials, All rights reserved.