James “Jim” Ropes Goodale, 78, of South Dennis, passed away peacefully on April 21, 2021. Jim was born in Leominster, MA to George W. Goodale and Gladys (Merrill) Goodale. He grew up in Lunenburg, MA and graduated from Lunenburg High School. At Lunenburg High, he was a star athlete excelling in Track and Field.

Jim graduated from Ward Business School in Worcester, MA and worked at Fort Devens for several years before moving to Southern California with a group of friends from Lunenburg in 1967. Jim worked at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) as a computer programmer, where he met his wife Wendy and joined her family’s restaurant business, owning and operating Orange Julius restaurants across the Southwestern US.

After a successful restaurant career in California, Jim returned to Cape Cod in 1990, where he opened a Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream in Eastham on the corner of Route 6 and Brackett Road, much to the delight of visitors to Coast Guard Beach. A Chatham location was opened a few years later. Jim was quite public-spirited and enjoyed sponsoring band concerts at his Ben and Jerry’s.

In the summers, Jim loved to watch the “sky blue/pink” sunsets from the deck of his bayside home on First Encounter Beach in Eastham. Always happy to entertain family and friends, many will remember his hospitality and good humor. When not on the Cape, Jim enjoyed the many family get-togethers at “UPTACAMP” in Ashburnham, MA. Jim was also an avid Boston Red Sox fan to the end. No matter his state of mind, he always knew the current lineup of players.

Jim is survived by his former wife Wendy, their daughter Marni Goodale and loving grandchildren Zachery and Julia. Jim is also survived by his brother Glenn W. Goodale (Nancy) of Rutland, VT, his sister Jane L. Nye (Mark) of Livingston, TX, his brother John W. Goodale (Barbara) of Princeton, MA and his sister Elizabeth G. Torre (Joseph) of Wilton, NH. And many wonderful nieces and nephews who greatly admired their Uncle Jim.

There will be a private family celebration of his life at a later date.

The Goodale family would like to thank all of the nursing staff and caregivers of South Dennis Healthcare and the former Wingate of Brewster for their kindness and wonderful care through the years.

In lieu of flowers please make donations to: The American Heart Association P.O. Box 417005, Boston, MA 02241-7005

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