James "Jim" Martin Luff

James “Jim” Martin Luff of Chestertown, MD, went home to be with the Lord on May 2, 2025, under the care of Compass Regional Hospice. He was 81. Jim was born in Greensboro, MD, on January 9, 1944, the only child of the late James Alan and Patsy Ruth Esham Luff. He was a 1962 graduate of North Caroline High School and a 1992 graduate of Washington College. He went on to earn his MBA from Wilmington University in 1996. Jim married Suzanne Thornton with whom he had a daughter Tina. He married Joyce Bedwell with whom he had a son Ryan. On June 12, 1998, he remarried to Victoria E. Homan. Jim was a patient and long-suffering husband to Victoria. A proud father to Tina and Ryan (Heidi); grandfather to Adrian, Dylan, and Hannah; and a great grandfather to Blake, Damien, and Zoe. During their marriage, Jim and Victoria called Kent Island home from 1998 until Jim’s retirement in 2012. They then moved to Sarasota, FL, returning to Chestertown in 2014. Jim worked for McCrone, Inc. from 1964-1991 and from 2000 to 2005. He owned and operated James M. Luff Surveying and Engineering from 1991 until 1997. He also worked with Greenhorne & O’Mara, Inc. and ATCS until his retirement in 2012. One to never sit still, he continued as a private consultant for former clients well into his retirement. Jim believed that service to humanity was the best work of life. He was a member of the Chestertown Jaycees, and in 1977, he was recognized as a JCI Senator. He loved the Senate and held many leadership roles, including State President, Region III Vice President, and National President in 1982, to name a few. He also served as President for Upper Shore Aging. In his retirement, Jim belonged to the Chestertown Lions Club. Jim’s true passion lay in economic development, and he served as president for both the Kent County and Queen Anne’s County chambers of commerce. He served on both the Economic Development Commission of Kent and Queen Anne’s counties. He was a Past Business Leader of the Year in 2007 in Queen Anne’s County. Jim loved his community and only ever wanted to bring the most benefit he could to all its citizens through his work with these various organizations. Jim was an avid fitness enthusiast and loved spending time at the Kent Athletic Club, Club One, and the YMCA of Kent County throughout his life. In later years, tales from the gym became more about social visits than actual fitness goals, but Jim was a sociable guy. He loved Friday night happy hour and over the years could be found at Andy’s, the Sarasota Happy Hour Crew, JR’s Past-Time Pub, and more recently at Zelda’s. Jim was an avid reader, loved music and traveling, and was a fierce friend. Admittedly not an “animal person,” Jim tolerated his first dog Wellington to please Victoria and later relented to welcoming a rescue dog named Fiona and an inherited cat named Charlie. Jim melted when their most recent dog Watcyn came into their lives. They were together every day until Jim’s passing. A celebration of his life will be held on Sunday, June 1, 2025, at 2 p.m. at Fellows, Helfenbein, and Newnam Funeral Home in Chestertown, MD, with a reception to follow. www.fhnfuneralhome.com Private interment will be in Greensboro Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to either Compass Regional Hospice, the Animal Care Shelter of Kent County, or the gift of your time to any one of many community organizations that seek to make our world a better place for all.

James "Jim" Martin Luff

January 9, 1944 - May 2, 2025