MONTPELIER: James Norman Ian Cameron passed away peacefully at his home in Montpelier, Vermont on March 23, 2011, surrounded by the love he so richly deserved. He was 96. Mr. Cameron was born in Motherwell, Scotland on November 22, 1914. His parents were John Samuel and Janet (Trainer) Cameron; he was the youngest of seven children. His siblings Betty, Jean, Jesse, Millicent, William and Helen all passed before him. Mr. Cameron immigrated to the United States in 1926 on the SS Caledonia. The family settled in Flushing, N.Y.; he graduated from Flushing High School in 1933. An outstanding athlete, he played baseball, basketball and soccer. He was recognized by the New York World Telegram in 1932 as the top scholastic soccer player in New York City. Mr. Cameron continued to play soccer until 1941, when he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He played with many championship teams, including the Flushing Juniors, the Amici Athletic Club, and the Bridgeport Soccer Club which won the Connecticut Amateur Soccer Championship in 1936 and 1937. He was invited to play with the 1936 Olympic team but had to decline due to family obligations. During WWII Mr. Cameron served in the Pacific Theatre as a Radioman, 1st Class, on the USS Chandeleur, an AV-10. He was a "Plank Owner", a member of the original crew, and was present for four of the five battle stars earned by the ship: Guadacanal, Marianas (capture of Saipan), Western Caroline Islands (capture of Palau Islands) and the assault and occupation of Okinawa. His association with his mates from the Chandeleur continued until his death. He attended numerous ship reunions, the last in 2009 accompanied by his son Scott, in Johnson City Tennessee. His name will be read in the Hall of Honor when the crew reunites again in September. Following his discharge in 1945 Mr. Cameron returned to New York. He married Dorothy June Schneider in 1946. Although employed full time he returned to school at night, earning a degree in banking from Stonier Graduate School of Banking at Rutger's University. Jim and Dorothy had two children, Jean Elizabeth (Gai) and John Scott Cameron. They raised their family on Fourth Avenue in East Meadow, a neighborhood filled with friends who mutually nurtured and supported each other, and whose children and grand children continue to maintain close relationships to this day. Jim and Dorothy also maintained a second home in Clearwater, Florida, for many years. They were members of Calvary Lutheran Church in East Meadow, and he was an incorporator and ardent supporter of the Long Island Lutheran High School. Mr. Cameron had a successful career in banking and finance. He left a vice presidency of the Lafayette National Bank to strike out on his own in 1954. He founded Installment Credit Corporation in Rockville Center, N.Y. and ran the company until 1973, when he retired. In 1956 he became an organizer, Director and major stockholder of the Eastern National Bank (ENB) in Smithtown, New York. The bank was acquired by Chemical Bank in 1972, and he served on the Board of Chemical Bank, Suffolk, until 1973. An avid, competitive golfer, Mr. Cameron was a member of the Hempstead Country Club in Hempstead N.Y. and the Cove Cay Country Club in Clearwater, Florida. He and his son, Scott, played hundreds of rounds together, especially after Jim and Dorothy relocated to Vermont, where they joined the Montpelier Elks Country Club. Scott was unable to beat his dad at the game until he reached the age of 89. They played their last round of 18 together, in a parent-child tournament, when Jim was 94 years of age. His daughter, Jean, died in 1993, an event which broke his heart but not his spirit. Jean's children, Matthew Erik Gai and Lauren Elen Gai, were a continuing source of pride to him. He maintained a close relationship with his son-in-law, Dennis Gai, and also came to know and love Dennis' second wife, Barbara, and her children Dawn and Craig. His son, John Scott Cameron, lives and practices law in Montpelier, Vermont. Scott's wife, Cathy, became a second daughter to him, and he was her father on earth. Their children, William and Brent Marcellus, loved and were loved by him. Mr. Cameron was happy and proud when Matthew and his wife, Jennifer Giacobbe, gave birth to his great-grandson Cameron MacAllister Gai last year. He was delighted by grandson Bill's decision in June 2010 to name one his twin boys James Cameron, and was devoted to his great grandchildren John Silas and David Ian Marcellus. Jim and Dorothy moved to Montpelier, Vermont in 2003, finding a new home at Westview Meadows, an independent living community where they made many new friends. He loved the Wayside Restaurant and believed Pizza Hut made the finest pizza in town. He was a favorite of the veteran waitstaff at both places, people who knew how to handle a demanding customer. His life was shaken again in 2006 when his wife of 60 years passed away; he never intended to outlive her. But his family and his new friends at Westview made his life worth living, so he kept at it despite the loss of his bride. Mr. Cameron's last months were difficult. His mind remained sharp until the end, but his vision and hearing had been in decline for years, and his legs failed him in the last three weeks. On Tuesday night he told Scott, Cathy and grandson Brent that he was ready to go home, and on Wednesday morning he passed away peacefully with his son at his side. Jim would want us to thank his caregivers, both paid and volunteers, for their loving kindness. Linda Brooks, Sandy Gaffney, John Lieff, Charles Heventhal, Brent Marcellus, Tammy Terry, Ellie Corrow and Brian Resnick helped to provide round the clock care. Cathy and Scott were always present. The nurses and therapists from Home Health and Hospice, including Albert Koch, Lauren Bailey, Barbara Allen, Deb Sanguinetti and others, were outstanding. He wanted to give a special thanks to Al Merritt for bringing piper Ian McHarg up to his room a few nights before he died to hear the tunes of glory one more time. Charles and Al were his boys at Westview Meadows, and he appreciated their friendship and support. Funeral arrangements for Mr. Cameron are being handled by Barber & Lanier in Montpelier, Vermont and MA Connell Funeral Home in Huntington, New York. Viewing in Montpelier at Barber & Lanier on Saturday, March 26, from 2 pm to 4 pm. Viewing in New York will be at MA Connell Funeral Home in Huntington from 2-4 pm and 7-9 pm on Monday, March 28, with the funeral service at 11 am at MA Connell on Tuesday, March 29. Donations in lieu of flowers may be directed to the Jean Cameron Gai Scholarship Fund at Long Island Lutheran High School, Brookville, New York.