James “Jim” Dow Hedberg, PhD, passed away peacefully on April 14, 2026, in Houston, Texas, at the age of 90.
Born in Maracaibo, Venezuela in 1936, Jim spent his early years moving among Gulf Oil company encampments with his brothers and parents, Hollis and Frances Hedberg.
Jim received his Doctorate in Geology at Princeton University, his Masters at Stanford University, and his BS in Geoscience at Penn State, where he distinguished himself early as a national collegiate champion in soccer, and a member of the Nittany Lions Wrestling team. He went on to serve as an officer in the United States Navy before beginning a 31-year career with Exxon mainly as an exploration geologist in the USA, Libya, Spain, Singapore, and Norway, and retiring after attaining leadership positions in Exploration, Development, Technology and Exploration Technical Assessment. During his tenure at Exxon, Jim was a visiting professor of graduate Geology at MIT, and an Adjunct Research Professor in the Earth Science & Resources Institute at the University of South Carolina following retirement. He was, in every sense, an “Exxon man”; rigorous in thought, disciplined in approach, and driven by a lifelong commitment to understanding the world beneath
At the center of his life was his family. Jim was a devoted husband to Nancy Marshall Hedberg and a proud father to Randi Hedberg, Linda Coddington, Kristina Hedberg, and Laura Spalding. He was a grandfather to seven and a great-grandfather to two.
As a father and grandfather, he instilled the importance of hard work, loyalty, and a sense of humor. Jim loved and delighted in teaching his children and grandchildren life lessons that might set them up for success. He took his children to visit over twenty countries, from rug-buying trips to Iran, safaris in Africa, to a monolith in Sri Lanka, and a stone age tribe in Borneo. He built hidden rooms in his houses for his grandchildren to discover, and constructed an elaborate doll house modeled after his childhood home. He compiled his own poetry book, giving copies to each of his daughters, because in his words, poetry expressed sentiments more eloquently than he could himself. A highly technical person with a passion for creative projects, he built an impressive collection of stamps and antique maps. Jim was also an avid tennis player--a lifelong interest he tried to share with some success with his children and grandchildren.
In Jim’s presence people felt not only welcomed, but seen and important. A gracious and attentive host, he always paused in his busy day for a quiet pre-dinner drink hour, engaging all those present in diverse, wide-ranging conversations.
We are, without a doubt, better off for knowing him. He would probably want you to remember him in your own way, and maybe to raise a glass and drink to your favorite memory.
He is survived by his wife, Nancy Marshall Hedberg; his daughters, Randi Hedberg, Linda Coddington, and Kristina Hedberg; his brother, Gus Hedberg, sister, Mary Hedberg, and sister-in-law, Sonnie Hedberg; and his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Laura Spalding.
Funeral Services will be held at the Princeton University Chapel on Friday, June 5th, 2026, at 9AM. Following the service, Jim will be laid to rest at the Princeton Cemetery. At the family’s request, the interment is private.
Flowers are welcome and may be sent in honor of James D. Hedberg to Kimble Funeral Home by June 4th at the following address:
1 Hamilton Avenue
Princeton, NJ 08542
(609) 924-0018
Services
James “Jim” Dow Hedberg, PhD, passed away peacefully on April 14, 2026, in Houston, Texas, at the age of 90.
Born in Maracaibo, Venezuela in 1936, Jim spent his early years moving among Gulf Oil company encampments with his brothers and parents, Hollis and Frances Hedberg.
Jim received his Doctorate in Geology at Princeton University, his Masters at Stanford University, and his BS in Geoscience at Penn State, where he distinguished himself early as a national collegiate champion in soccer, and a member of the Nittany Lions Wrestling team. He went on to serve as an officer in the United States Navy before beginning a 31-year career with Exxon mainly as an exploration geologist in the USA, Libya, Spain, Singapore, and Norway, and retiring after attaining leadership positions in Exploration, Development, Technology and Exploration Technical Assessment. During his tenure at Exxon, Jim was a visiting professor of graduate Geology at MIT, and an Adjunct Research Professor in the Earth Science & Resources Institute at the University of South Carolina following retirement. He was, in every sense, an “Exxon man”; rigorous in thought, disciplined in approach, and driven by a lifelong commitment to understanding the world beneath
his feet.
At the center of his life was his family. Jim was a devoted husband to Nancy Marshall Hedberg and a proud father to Randi Hedberg, Linda Coddington, Kristina Hedberg, and Laura Spalding. He was a grandfather to seven and a great-grandfather to two.
As a father and grandfather, he instilled the importance of hard work, loyalty, and a sense of humor. Jim loved and delighted in teaching his children and grandchildren life lessons that might set them up for success. He took his children to visit over twenty countries, from rug-buying trips to Iran, safaris in Africa, to a monolith in Sri Lanka, and a stone age tribe in Borneo. He built hidden rooms in his houses for his grandchildren to discover, and constructed an elaborate doll house modeled after his childhood home. He compiled his own poetry book, giving copies to each of his daughters, because in his words, poetry expressed sentiments more eloquently than he could himself. A highly technical person with a passion for creative projects, he built an impressive collection of stamps and antique maps. Jim was also an avid tennis player--a lifelong interest he tried to share with some success with his children and grandchildren.
In Jim’s presence people felt not only welcomed, but seen and important. A gracious and attentive host, he always paused in his busy day for a quiet pre-dinner drink hour, engaging all those present in diverse, wide-ranging conversations.
We are, without a doubt, better off for knowing him. He would probably want you to remember him in your own way, and maybe to raise a glass and drink to your favorite memory.
He is survived by his wife, Nancy Marshall Hedberg; his daughters, Randi Hedberg, Linda Coddington, and Kristina Hedberg; his brother, Gus Hedberg, sister, Mary Hedberg, and sister-in-law, Sonnie Hedberg; and his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Laura Spalding.
Funeral Services will be held at the Princeton University Chapel on Friday, June 5th, 2026, at 9AM. Following the service, Jim will be laid to rest at the Princeton Cemetery. At the family’s request, the interment is private.
Flowers are welcome and may be sent in honor of James D. Hedberg to Kimble Funeral Home by June 4th at the following address:
1 Hamilton Avenue
Princeton, NJ 08542
(609) 924-0018
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