Obituary for James H. McCue
Sergeant USMC James H. McCue, age 86, gave up the ghost and left this place on May 19, 2021. God most likely broke the mold after Jim was born to the late Martin and Kitty (Ryan) McCue of West Hartford, CT. “Jimmy” was the youngest of the McCue kids and he cherished his four older siblings Bob, Bill and Alice McCue and his late sister Peg Strout. A true family man, he cared deeply for his 27 nieces and nephews.
Jim was an athletic kid and played football (in a leather helmet) in the early 1950’s for Hall High School in West Hartford, CT. He believed football was the only reason they let him stay in school. Jim loved to travel despite his first trip being at age 17 to Boot Camp in Parris Island, South Carolina. He survived boot camp despite never learning to swim. He was a proud Marine.
After being stationed in Hawaii and Japan, he returned home to West Hartford, CT, where he lived most of his adult life, next door to his brother Bob and his family on South Main Street.
Handsome in his West Hartford Policeman’s uniform, a tall Irish Catholic with a good head of hair, Jim attended a Young Democrat’s dance at the Alden Club in Hartford. There he saw a tall beautiful woman. Too shy to approach her, he had his best friend since childhood, Ted Brennan, introduce him to Audray Hector. That night grew into sixty two years of marriage to a woman he loved completely. Thanks to Ted’s introduction, there are now 11 more McCues in the world. Jim leaves his 5 children and their spouses: Kitty McCue (Don) of Lyme, CT, Jim McCue (Bernadette) of Hampton, NH, Mike McCue (Pam) of Cumberland, RI, John McCue (Jocelyn) of New Brunswick, Canada and Helen DiMarzio (Dean) of Leominster, MA. He took extreme pride in his grandchildren, who are most dear to him: Jesse Kleis (Alice) of Aliso Viejo, CA, Michael and Kevin McCue of RI, William and Kathleen McCue of Canada and great granddaughter Violette Kleis.
A sharp wit, with a glint in his navy blue eyes, he loved a good party and could always be found in the center of the action telling stories and making people laugh. He was always there when you needed him. Jim loved and protected fiercely. If he teased you, he liked you. He believed that “All you got in this world was your family, faith and sense of humor.” He was rich in all three.
He was old school. He went to Mass on Sundays at St. Mark’s the Evangelist in West Hartford CT. He made his kids go. He voted. He coached pee wee football. He sat through recitals and sporting events. He stayed up many a long night helping with school projects.
Oh, how he hated vegetables. A pie connoisseur, Jim had strict rules about pie. Each type of pie had to have a certain flavor of ice cream and whipped cream for others. During holidays, a regular assortment was required, and no one made lemon meringue like his mother’s.
Jim leaves behind “the girls”, his zany sisters-in-law: Maureen Parker, Judy Ford, Sharon Cassidy, and the late Holly Cmiel. He spent countless hours around holiday tables teasing them and having “just a sliver more” of pie. He loved them.
After Jim retired from Balf–Savin Plant in Manchester CT, one of his biggest joys was morning coffee with his bride. He was a regular at Rockledge golf course in West Hartford CT. A Disney enthusiast (he couldn’t wait to plan each trip), dedicated UCONN basketball fan, video game enthusiast, and GameStop celebrity for being the oldest kid in the store.
Jim often yearned to travel and just took his last big trip. No more worries Dad, we will be fine. We will be seeing you again.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, (June 25), 10:30 am at St. Mark the Evangelist Church. West Hartford. Burial will follow in St Patrick’s Cemetery, Route 4, Burlington CT. Calling hours will be prior to the Mass from 830- 10:00 am at Sheehan-Hilborn-Breen, 1084 New Britain Ave, West Hartford. Online condolences may be made at www.SheehanHilbornBreen.com
Jim was an athletic kid and played football (in a leather helmet) in the early 1950’s for Hall High School in West Hartford, CT. He believed football was the only reason they let him stay in school. Jim loved to travel despite his first trip being at age 17 to Boot Camp in Parris Island, South Carolina. He survived boot camp despite never learning to swim. He was a proud Marine.
After being stationed in Hawaii and Japan, he returned home to West Hartford, CT, where he lived most of his adult life, next door to his brother Bob and his family on South Main Street.
Handsome in his West Hartford Policeman’s uniform, a tall Irish Catholic with a good head of hair, Jim attended a Young Democrat’s dance at the Alden Club in Hartford. There he saw a tall beautiful woman. Too shy to approach her, he had his best friend since childhood, Ted Brennan, introduce him to Audray Hector. That night grew into sixty two years of marriage to a woman he loved completely. Thanks to Ted’s introduction, there are now 11 more McCues in the world. Jim leaves his 5 children and their spouses: Kitty McCue (Don) of Lyme, CT, Jim McCue (Bernadette) of Hampton, NH, Mike McCue (Pam) of Cumberland, RI, John McCue (Jocelyn) of New Brunswick, Canada and Helen DiMarzio (Dean) of Leominster, MA. He took extreme pride in his grandchildren, who are most dear to him: Jesse Kleis (Alice) of Aliso Viejo, CA, Michael and Kevin McCue of RI, William and Kathleen McCue of Canada and great granddaughter Violette Kleis.
A sharp wit, with a glint in his navy blue eyes, he loved a good party and could always be found in the center of the action telling stories and making people laugh. He was always there when you needed him. Jim loved and protected fiercely. If he teased you, he liked you. He believed that “All you got in this world was your family, faith and sense of humor.” He was rich in all three.
He was old school. He went to Mass on Sundays at St. Mark’s the Evangelist in West Hartford CT. He made his kids go. He voted. He coached pee wee football. He sat through recitals and sporting events. He stayed up many a long night helping with school projects.
Oh, how he hated vegetables. A pie connoisseur, Jim had strict rules about pie. Each type of pie had to have a certain flavor of ice cream and whipped cream for others. During holidays, a regular assortment was required, and no one made lemon meringue like his mother’s.
Jim leaves behind “the girls”, his zany sisters-in-law: Maureen Parker, Judy Ford, Sharon Cassidy, and the late Holly Cmiel. He spent countless hours around holiday tables teasing them and having “just a sliver more” of pie. He loved them.
After Jim retired from Balf–Savin Plant in Manchester CT, one of his biggest joys was morning coffee with his bride. He was a regular at Rockledge golf course in West Hartford CT. A Disney enthusiast (he couldn’t wait to plan each trip), dedicated UCONN basketball fan, video game enthusiast, and GameStop celebrity for being the oldest kid in the store.
Jim often yearned to travel and just took his last big trip. No more worries Dad, we will be fine. We will be seeing you again.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, (June 25), 10:30 am at St. Mark the Evangelist Church. West Hartford. Burial will follow in St Patrick’s Cemetery, Route 4, Burlington CT. Calling hours will be prior to the Mass from 830- 10:00 am at Sheehan-Hilborn-Breen, 1084 New Britain Ave, West Hartford. Online condolences may be made at www.SheehanHilbornBreen.com