SARATOGA SPRINGS — James Coyne King, of Dover, MA, died Saturday, February 13, 2016 at the age of 67. He was born on May 14, 1948 in Saratoga Springs to his beloved parents Gerard E. and Catherine S. King. James received his A.B. (1970), J.D. (1973) and LL.M. (1978) from Georgetown University. Undaunted and driven by intellectual pursuits that never ceased to capture his mind or spirit, James practiced law as an Attorney in the Office of Chief Counsel at the IRS, served as a Trial Attorney in the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, was Special Assistant to the U.S. Attorneys for the Districts of Colorado and Massachusetts, founded the Boston-based law firm, Murphy & King in 1980 and was a candidate for the Democratic nomination to run for the U.S. Senate in 2012. He escaped on weekends to Martha’s Vineyard for over 30 years, and enjoyed sharing time at the beach and engaging in witty dinner table banter with friends and family alike. Whether he was shucking oysters, introducing new species of amphibians to the West Tisbury habitat or challenging family to a spirited game of Scrabble, he epitomized a Vineyarder. He also loved his hometown of Saratoga Springs, its mineral water and baths, thoroughbred racing at the Saratoga Race Course, and his family’s storied history. His kindness and private generosity will endure in the hearts of those he encountered for generations to come.
Survivors include his wife, Deborah W. King, his son, Christopher M. King (and wife Colleen), step-daughter, Elizabeth A. Paglia (and husband David), step-son, Jonathan T. Stoker, his two grandsons, Graham F. King and William W. King, his step-granddaughter, Vivian G. Paglia, his three older brothers, Robert G. King (and wife Edith), Gerard E. King, Jr. (and wife Catherine) and Charles M. King (and wife Linda), 12 nieces/nephews and 35 grand-nieces/nephews. He was predeceased by his best friend, Scout.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Friday, February 19, 2016 in St. Clement’s Church, 231 Lake Ave. in Saratoga Springs. Burial followed in the family plot in St. Peter’s Cemetery, West Ave. in Saratoga Springs
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in his name to the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals-Angell Animal Medical Center (https://www.mspca.org/) or The Riecken Foundation (https://riecken.org/).
Online remembrances may be made at www.burkefuneralhome.com.
