James J. Mchale

James J. McHale

Newark—James J. McHale, 85, died Monday, Memorial Day (May 30, 2011) at the Wayne County Nursing Home after a courageous seven week battle with complications of pneumonia..

            Friends may call from 4-7 P.M. on Thursday (June 2, 2011) at the Paul L. Murphy & Sons Funeral Home, 127 East Miller Street, Newark.   A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 A.M. on Friday (June 3, 2011) at St. Michael Church, South Main Street, Newark.  Burial will be in Newark Cemetery with full military honors.

            Please make memorial contributions in Jim’s name to St. Michael Church, 401 South Main Street, or Newark-Wayne Community Hospital Cardiac Rehabilitation Unit, PO Box 571, Newark, New York 14513.

            Mr. McHale was born November 26, 1925 in Geneva, the son of the late James and Mary Jane (Mulvey) McHale.  A 1943 graduate of DeSales High School in Geneva, Jim served his country during World War II with the U.S. Navy in the Philippines.  After the service, he graduated from Syracuse University in 1950 with a Bachelors of Arts Degree in Political Science.  Jim earned a Masters of Education from the University of Rochester and a Masters of Library Science from SUNY Geneseo.  He was employed by the Geneva City School District for over thirty years.  Jim served on the faculty at Geneva Junior High, first as a social studies/history teacher and later as the school librarian.  For nearly thirty years, as a summer job, he was employed as a cashier at the Finger Lakes Race Track.  He has been retired since 1992.

            During his retirement, Jim has been a very active volunteer at Saint Michael’s Church and in the local community at several places including the Newark Food Closet and the Newark-Arcadia Historical Society.  For several years, he has been a member and served as chairman of the Newark Zoning Board of Appeals.   He was a member of the August Mauer Post American Legion and the Arcadia Memorial Post VFW. Jim remained connected to his college fraternity Sigma Alpha Epsilon through alumni functions. He has been very involved in the Conservative Party of Wayne County for many years.  An avid reader, he was especially interested in reading about the Catholic faith; history, specifically World War II; politics and investing.  Jim and Rita who had been married since July 9, 1955, have also enjoyed travelling during their retirement,

He will be dearly missed by his family, who survive him, his wife Rita Stepner McHale with whom he has shared 55 years of marriage; his six children Mary (Joseph)  Castellano of Glen Head, NY, James (Hiroko Goto) McHale of San Francisco, CA,, Maureen (David) Burke of Altanta, GA, Kathleen (Timothy) Tanea of Newark, Matthew (Andrea) McHale of Manlius, Sheila (Kevin) Alvares of Gilbert, AZ.; twelve grandchildren, Claire and Cecilia Castellano, Kei McHale, John, Daniel and Shauna Burke, Christopher and Sarah Tanea, Connor and Daniel McHale, Emma and James Alvares.; his brother Robert (Joan) McHale of Rush, his sister Mary Jane (Frederick) Winkler of Andalusia, AL., many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.  The family would like to give special thanks to Dr. Arun Nagpaul and the staff of the Wayne County Nursing Home for their splendid and loving care.

Remembrance may be made to www.murphyandsonsfuneralhome.com