James Robert Georgeson

James Robert Georgeson, 79, of Rock Hall, Maryland, passed away peacefully at Compass Regional Hospice's Barnette Center in Centreville on July 22, 2026. Jim was born in Glasgow, Scotland, on July 1, 1947, the son of the late James Henry "Harry" Georgeson and Margaret Johnston. Although he was born in Glasgow while his father was working there, both of his parents were natives of Shetland, and Jim always proudly considered himself a Shetlander. Jim spent his childhood in Shetland until the age of nine, when his family relocated to High Wycombe, England, in 1956. After completing secondary school and earning his O-level qualifications, he served an apprenticeship in mechanical engineering from 1964 to 1968. He went on to earn a Higher National Certificate in Mechanical Engineering in 1971. Following his education, Jim accepted a Short Service Commission as a Lieutenant in the Instructor Branch of the British Royal Navy. During his five years of service, he taught mathematics, engineering science, and engineering drawing to apprentices and engineering personnel in the Royal Navy, as well as members of the Ghanaian, Nigerian, and Iranian navies. An adventurous spirit and a love of travel led Jim overseas in 1978 when he accepted a one-year position as a Field Scheduling Engineer with Flour Arabia Ltd. in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. Although the office-based position proved less exciting than anticipated, it opened the door to new experiences. After his contract ended, he spent three months helping a friend deliver yachts to ports throughout the United Kingdom. In 1979, Jim accepted a teaching position in Libya, instructing young engineers in mathematics and engineering for Aramco Oil Company. He thoroughly enjoyed his three years there, finding time to pursue his passion for windsurfing and traveling throughout Tunisia and Morocco. When that contract concluded, Jim embarked on a year-long journey that took him through Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, and eventually the United States. In New Zealand, he was joined by his Uncle Alec, and together they traveled and fished from a camper van, creating memories Jim treasured for the rest of his life. Upon arriving in the United States in 1983, Jim reunited with an American friend he had met while working overseas. He traveled to Stowe, Vermont, to help renovate the Ye Olde England Inn before ski season. On New Year's Eve, he met three women visiting from Boston, and by chance he encountered one of them—Diana, the least experienced skier—on the slopes the following day. That meeting sparked a romance that would define the rest of his life. After a year and a half of maintaining a long-distance relationship through letters and visits, Jim sold his home and purchased a sailboat with the intention of sailing to America to begin a new chapter. Diana, despite never having sailed before, boldly announced she would join him. What was expected to be a three-month voyage became a remarkable three-year adventure aboard their 35-foot Camper Nicholson sailing yacht. Together they explored ports throughout Spain, Portugal, Porto Santo, Madeira, and the Canary Islands, where sailing friends officiated a beach wedding. They crossed the Atlantic in time to celebrate Christmas and New Year's in Barbados before island-hopping through Grenada, Bequia, St. Vincent, Martinique, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. They later legally married in Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands, before continuing to the Bahamas and eventually Florida. After sailing to Charleston, South Carolina, where Jim obtained his Green Card, they lived aboard their sailboat while working in Annapolis. Never content to stay in one place for long, they sailed back to the Caribbean, spending another winter living aboard while working ashore in St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. In 1988, Jim and Diana returned to Maryland and settled in Worton, where Jim purchased a home that he lovingly renovated in his spare time. He worked for several years repairing boats at Georgetown Yacht Basin while also building a speculative home on his property. After subdividing the land, he constructed a second home as a rental property. In the mid-1990s, Jim trained as a home inspector and worked for Home Pro until 2013, when Parkinson's disease made it impossible for him to continue driving. In 2008, he fulfilled one of his proudest accomplishments by designing and building his own 1,900-square-foot home in Piney Neck using Structural Insulated Panel (SIP) construction, allowing him to live just minutes from the Rock Hall Yacht Club. Jim faced Parkinson's disease with remarkable courage and determination. Rather than allowing the disease to define him, he became an active member of a Parkinson's support group in Chestertown and, beginning in 2018, faithfully attended Rock Steady Boxing in Chester, where he continued fighting the progression of the disease with resilience and optimism. Sailing was Jim's lifelong passion. Shortly after moving to Kent County, he became a regular competitor in Friday evening races on the Chesapeake Bay and Wednesday night races at Miles River Yacht Club in St. Michaels. After joining the Rock Hall Yacht Club in 2003, Jim formed countless lasting friendships while volunteering for regattas, racing Windmill sailboats, and contributing to club improvements. Among his many accomplishments, he helped design and build the club's first lifting hoist on the waterfront and, alongside his best mate, Chuck Parry, faithfully hauled and maintained the club's moorings each winter. Jim will be remembered for his adventurous spirit, sharp engineering mind, generosity, sense of humor, and unwavering determination. Whether sailing across oceans, building homes, teaching others, or lending a helping hand at the yacht club, he approached every challenge with curiosity, skill, and quiet confidence. He is survived by his beloved wife of 40 years, Diana Georgeson; his daughters, Samantha Kirwan (Joey) and Heather Woodcock (Anthony); his cherished grandchildren, Lincoln, Zoe, Londyn, and Ellie; his sister, Margaret Sheppard (John); his brother, David Georgeson (Mimi); three nieces, Amanda, Ria, and Wilma; and three nephews, Daniel, Lewis, and Paul. In addition to his parents, Jim was preceded in death by his brother, Arthur Georgeson, and Arthur's wife, Alexandra. In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to the YMCA of Centreville 210 Vincent St. Centreville, MD. 21617 or the YMCA of Chestertown 200 Scheeler Rd. Chestertown,MD 21620.The YMCA provides the Rock Steady Boxing program free of charge to people suffering from Parkinson’s Disease. Also Compass Regional Hospice 255 Comet Dr. Centreville, MD 21617 or The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research P.O. Box 5014 Hagertown, MD 21741-5014

James Robert Georgeson

July 1, 1947 - July 22, 2026