James Joseph Murtha

James Murtha

James Joseph, 87, World War II Veteran, United States Navy. James entered eternal rest on July 25, 2012 at his home surrounded by his children. A descendant of the Murtagh clan of Castlepollard, County Westmeath, Ireland, James was born and raised in Greenwich Village in New York City where he met and married his beloved wife of 62 years Catherine. He was an alumnus of St Veronica's School and La Salle Academy.

He served as a sonar man in the U.S. Navy during World War II aboard USS Samuel S. Miles Destroyer Escort 183. He earned 9 battle stars during his time in the U.S. Navy. He graduated cum laude from Fordham University and worked for The New York Port Authority for 35 years as an administrator before retiring. During the last seventeen years of his career with The Port Authority, James' office was located on the 56th floor of the North Tower of The World Trade Center.

James and his wife moved from NYC to Clifton seeking a better life for their family. They were active members of St. Philip the Apostle Parish, in 1978 they moved again to Montville Township where they belonged to St Pius X Church and The Lake Valhalla Club. James was a loyal member of Montville VFW Post 5481 and Tin Can Sailors, The National Association of Destroyer Veterans. He was a proud supporter of The Wounded Warrior Project

James was predeceased by his loving wife Catherine Murtha (nee Finn), his parents James and Mary Murtha (nee Gibson) and his younger brother Lt. Eugene A. Murtha who was killed in action while serving in the U.S. Air Force.

He is survived by his children: Dr. James Murtha III and his wife Catherine and his daughter Ellen Conlon, grandchildren: Suzanne Pasmore and her husband Charles, Katherine Davey and her husband Thomas, Emily King and her husband Jay and Kenneth Conlon and his wife Roseanne, eight great-grandchildren: Megan, Catherine and Mary Claire Davey, Anne and James King, and James, Ryan and Alison Conlon, brothers: William Murtha and his wife Ellie and Thomas Murtha and his wife Peggy and sister Kathleen Hagan and sister-in-law Helen Murtha Thompson along with numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held on Friday, July 27th from 2-4 and 7-9 PM at Keri Memorial Funeral Home, 125 Main Street, Lincoln Park, NJ 07035. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, July 28th at 10 AM at St Pius X R,C. Church, 24 Changebridge Road, Montville, NJ 07045.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Wounded Warrior Project, 4899 Belfort Road, Suite 300, Jacksonville, Florida 32256 or online at woundedwarriorproject.org

Published in The Record/Herald News on July 27, 2012