James R. "Jim" Vaillancourt, PhD

James R. “Jim” Vaillancourt, PhD, age 84 of Franklin, TN passed away August 14, 2025 at his residence. Retired Senior Consultant and former Executive Director, teacher, administrator, small business partner but more importantly, he was Dad, brother, Pops and Papa to his family.

Dr. Vaillancourt was born May 3, 1941 in Albany, New York but moved near Buffalo, New York as a young child and earned his three degrees from the State University of New York at Buffalo (UB). After a brief stint teaching high school, he worked at UB and the SUNY College at Geneseo in their respective Admissions Departments. Subsequently, he moved to Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA serving as Dean of Enrollment Services and Associate Professor in the School of Education, and then to the University of Maryland, Baltimore County where he served as Assistant Provost. After moving to Franklin, he enjoyed being an adjunct professor in The Owen School of Graduate Management at Vanderbilt University and in the College of Business MBA program at Lipscomb University. He was the former Executive Director of the Center for Nonprofit Management from which he retired after serving for many years. In 2018, Jim was awarded the Lewis Lavine Presidents Award for sharing wisdom, integrity and kindness to strengthen non-profits. Jim was that way in every aspect of his life with everyone he encountered. He was a consultant to several colleges and universities around the country and numerous nonprofit organizations in the mid-south and beyond on a variety of management issues. Jim has served on a number of boards as member and officer, among them board treasurer of the Alliance for Nonprofit Management, an international association of individuals and organizations that strengthen nonprofits and chaired the Williamson County Library board in Franklin, Tennessee. Jim was instrumental in the redevelopment of the waterfront in Norfolk, VA and the Harborfest celebrations and served on the board of PPYC in his later years.

Jim will be forever remembered as a fun, loyal, gentleman. He was an avid sportsman, a football hero in university, ice hockey player, disc thrower, skier, water-skier, duck and pigeon hunter, gentleman farmer, marathon runner, fraternity brother and avid sailor. Many a celebration was had at the Buffalo Club during his university years. Jim died peacefully in his sleep after watching the Titans play. Go Titans!!!

He is preceded in death by his wife, Mary Jo Anderson Vaillancourt, who died recently on February 8, 2025, and to whom he had been married to for 38 years; daughter, Gabrielle Fortier Vaillancourt; parents, Gerald W. and Philomena M. Vaillancourt; his brother-in-law, James F. Eagan; his wife’s brother, J Clark Anderson III and her sister, Janice Anderson Herbert and also Georgia Drapanas, the mother of his two daughters.

Survived by: daughter, Andrea Drapanas Vaillancourt (Alan) Alder; brother, Robert G. “Bob” (Delores) Vaillancourt; sister, Gayle Vaillancourt Eagan; seven nieces and nephews and several cousins; Mary Jo’s sons, Carl Thomas (Cheri Alexander) Archbold and William Hunt (Pamela Laurent) Archbold; grandchildren, Nathan Thomas Archbold and Zachary Locke Archbold and sister, Nancy (John) Hubbard.

A Celebration of Life Gathering will be held on Saturday, August 30, 2025 from 11:00 AM until 12:00 Noon at Williamson Memorial Funeral Home. The family requests to please come with your memories. There will be an opportunity to write them down to share with the family as a keepsake. Per Jim’s request, there will be music and an opportunity share “Jim’s Juice”. In his honor, memorials may be made to Percy Priest Yacht Club or Saddle UP.

WILLIAMSON MEMORIAL FUNERALL HOME, (615) 794-2289 williamsonmemorial.com