James R. Maxson Jr., owned Lancaster insurance agency
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April 21, 1923—Dec. 9, 2009
James R. Maxson Jr., retired owner of an insurance agency in Lancaster and a former Snyder resident, died Wednesday at his home in Mystic, Conn. He was 86.
Born in Mystic, he was a graduate of Fitch High School in Groton, Conn., and the University of Connecticut. He served in the Navy, Army Air Forces and Air Force. He was employed by Aetna Insurance Co. and after training at Aetna’s corporate headquarters in Hartford, Conn., he went to Richmond, Va., as a special agent. He transferred to Buffalo in 1957.
While in Buffalo, Mr. Maxson joined and later became owner of the Gahwe Brothers Insurance Agency in Lancaster. He was president of the Independent Insurance Agents Association of New York and vice president of the Rotary Club of Buffalo.
Mr. Maxson served on the review committee of the United Way of Buffalo&Erie County. He also was a member of the Amherst School Board from 1970 to 1979 and also served as president of the board. He was a co-founder and president of the Association for Children with Learning Disabilities of Western New York. He retired from running his insurance agency in 1980 and moved to Connecticut.
Mr. Maxson also served as president of the Groton School Board and was a volunteer at the Mystic Seaport Museum in Mystic, Conn.
He is survived his wife, the former Justine Vanasse; two sons, James III and Christopher; two daughters, Sara Sheldon and Lizbeth McGee; and a sister, Mary Palmer.
A memorial service is planned Dec. 26 in Mystic.
Published: December 15, 2009, 12:30 am