LACONIA - James J. Todd, 68, of Laconia passed away with his family by his side on Wednesday, March 30, 2011, after a courageous battle with glioblastoma cancer. He was born on July 7, 1942, in Roxbury, Mass., the son of Walter and Olive (Sidebottom) Todd. He grew up in Tewksbury, Mass., and resided in Hudson for 23 years, moved to Portsmouth for nine years before becoming a resident of South Down Shores in Laconia.He was a graduate of Tewksbury High School and a graduate of East Coast Aero Tech in Lexington, Mass. He was currently employed at Industrial Protection Services in Wilmington, Mass. Earlier in his career, he worked for International Paper Box Machine Company in Nashua. He was a dedicated and well-respected employee for 30-plus years in various plant operation positions, evolving to safety director at W.R. Grace Chemical Company in Nashua.Professional affiliations included an appointment to the executive council of the State Board of Fire Control in New Hampshire and an appointment to the National Emergency Broadcast System. His dedication to safety training included volunteering and teaching CPR training classes for the American Red Cross.He had a life-long love of boating which began with his first boat, "the Lazy Jim," and a summer cottage on Little Ossipee Lake in Waterboro, Maine. This love continued on Lake Winnipesaukee with bigger boats.Other activities he enjoyed included refinishing furniture, woodworking, golfing, racquetball, snowmobiling and recently traveling. His most recent memorable trip was a cruise in the Mediterranean.He will be remembered as a devoted husband, father, grandfather and a man who was always right there to help anyone who needed it, with a signature smirk and a story to tell. Family members include his wife of 48 years, Donna L. (Orpik) Todd of Concord, Mass.; daughter Colleen A. Todd of Plymouth, Mass.; son and daughter in-law James W. and Kimberly (Prentice) Todd of Merrimack; daughter and son in-law Kerri A. and Max E. Klein III of Plano, Texas; daughter and son in-law Kristi A. and Jack R. Lacasse of Litchfield; nine grandchildren, Scott S. Gustitus Jr., Nicholas James Gustitus, James Joseph Gustitus, Robert P. Todd, Kaitlyn J. Todd, Matthew P. Todd, Megan R. Lacasse, and twins Emma L. and Olivia A. Lacasse; two sisters, Marjorie Moulaison of Tewksbury, Mass., and Geraldine Stanton, of Bluffton, S.C.; a brother-in-law and sister in-law, William and Veronica Orpik of Plymouth, Mass.; several cousins; and several nieces and nephews.He was predeceased by his father, Walter L. Todd, on Nov. 6, 1971, and by his mother, Olive L. Todd, on Oct. 28, 2010.Calling hours are Sunday, April 4, from noon to 3 p.m. and Monday, April 5, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., with the memorial service immediately following at the George R. Rivet Funeral Home, 425 D.W. Highway, Merrimack.In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Beacon Hospice, Inc. 70 Commercial St., 4th Floor, Concord NH 03301, www.beaconhospice.com.For more information and to sign an on line registry, please visit www.rivetfuneralhome.com.