Jim Toole Reflects on Four Decades in Lighting

Yesterday at Boston Lights, your humble editor learned of Jim Toole’s retirement.

Jim Toole’s career in lighting began in South Norwalk, Connecticut, where he worked with Q-Tran alongside John Tremaine. At the time, the company was undergoing revitalization, and its retail store. Managing the store was Megan Carroll, who interviewed Jim and offered him a job while he was still a college student.

Later, Megan moved to New York. Years afterward, fate brought them together again when Jim joined the company. The two began commuting into New York City and, over time, fell in love.

Megan first hired Jim in lighting in 1985—marking forty years in the industry this year. Over the years, he transitioned from the artistic side of the industry—drawing, sketching, and designing—to the business side, including sales, management, and custom lighting manufacturing. He built and ran several companies before eventually stepping back to enjoy the fruits of a long and successful career.

Now, Jim is looking forward to retirement—and Megan, too. “I’ve done well enough that I can retire, and she can too, for that matter,” he said with a laugh.

Jim plans to spend mre time restoring cars and motorcycles and plans to earn his pilot’s license!

Four decades after that first interview in South Norwalk, Jim Toole remains one of the lighting industry’s great stories—where creativity, craftsmanship, and love all found their place under one roof.

Congratulations Jim and Megan.

Below is his letter to the industry.