James Otto Comfort, 93, passed away peacefully on April 24, 2025 at Harbour Health Center in Port Charlotte, FL.  He was born March 5, 1932 in Minneapolis, MN to the late Thomas H. and Dorathy A. (Hermann) Comfort.

James attended the University of Minnesota, receiving a B.S. degree in Civil Engineering, and was President of St. Paul Structural Steel Company which was instrumental in the construction of many buildings and bridges in the Twin Cities area.

He married Helen Jane Hartfiel in 1956.  They initially lived in St. Paul, MN, where they raised their family.  Over the years, James and Helen also lived in Hudson (WI), on a sailboat traveling the eastern U.S. Intercoastal Waterway, and settling down in Punta Gorda/Port Charlotte (FL) in their later years.

James was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed boating, fishing, canoeing, and backpacking with his family in Minnesota, Canada, Colorado and Wyoming.  He also enjoyed traveling, birdwatching, photography, tinkering and designing or fixing things.  One of the highlights of James and Helen's adventures was living on their sailboat for three years while

traveling the eastern U.S. Intercoastal Waterway from Punta Gorda, FL to the Maine coast – with many extended excursions along the way.

James is survived by daughters Carol Comfort (Lowell) Hill, Janet Lee, son James (Ann) Comfort, sister-in-law Mary Sue Comfort, brother-in-law William (Helen) Hartfiel, four grandchildren, and three great grandchildren, along with extended families.

He was preceded in death by his loving spouse, Helen, parents Thomas and Dorathy Comfort, and brother Thomas Comfort.

Memorials preferred to Peace River Audubon Society (Charlotte Co., FL) or donor's choice.

Private interment at Roselawn Cemetery, St. Paul, MN