Obituary, James "Pop" Walsh

James P Walsh 
(September 3, 1931 - July 24, 2012)  

 Southbury - James P. (Jim) Walsh Jr, 80, of Southbury CT died Tuesday July 24, 2012 from complications due to a vehicular accident but was surrounded by loved ones with him in person and in spirit.

He was born Sept 3, 1931 in Albany, NY and was the treasured husband of 57 years of Margaret (Meg) Bement Walsh and the son of the late James P. and Mildred L. Walsh of Albany NY.

Jim was a 1954 graduate of Siena College where he was recruited to play basketball and baseball. He is remembered by his teammates as a talented natural athlete and scrappy competitor, helping his teams to many successful seasons at Siena.

He was a member of the 1952-53 Siena basketball team that extended a game to six overtimes, which was the longest game in NCAA history at the time (now second longest).

Jim also proudly served in the US Marine Corp. After completing his studies at Siena, Jim was drafted by the Brooklyn Dodgers and played for a season in the Dodger’s farm system before embarking on a successful 30+ year career as an executive with The Equitable Life Assurance Co.

While raising his family in Wallingford, Clinton and Newtown CT and Orlando FL, Jim could always be found on the field coaching youth sports and was adored by his players and their parents for his commitment, integrity, love-of-the-game and sense of humor.

Turning prematurely grey from raising six children but still displaying his strong athletic abilities, Jim acquired the nickname “Silver Fox”. Jim was always a loyal member of the Catholic Church wherever the family settled and he was a Eucharistic Minister. He was a dedicated member of the Heritage Village Ambulance Association and an occasional performer with the Heritage Village Theatre Guild, usually in comedic roles. Jim and Meg were also renowned for their swing dancing prowess, with their signature dance being the “Jitterbug”.

Following his retirement from Equitable in the late 80’s, Jim could often be found helping his son Jimmy and grandson Jamie run the mulch yard at JF Walsh Mulch & Logging in Newtown CT. He made many friends there among fellow employees and customers due to his warm and caring personality and ready willingness to share a joke or funny story.

He also developed the new nickname “Pop”, which he loved and which Jimmy had emblazoned for him on the side of his loader.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his beloved sister Ellen Walsh Barber, her husband Richard and their five children and his beloved brother Edmund Walsh and his three children. He is also survived by his six much-loved children and their spouses: Michael J. Walsh his wife and Nina of Roxbury CT, James F Walsh and his wife Dinah of Newtown, CT, Kevin P Walsh and his wife Sandra of Fairfield, CT, Sharon Brace and her husband David of Sewell, NJ, Colleen Mars and her husband Christopher of Scarborough, ME and Mary Kathleen Ceballos and her husband Julio of Atlanta Georgia. He is also survived by his twenty cherished grandchildren: Ryan, Amanda, Neil, Larissa, and Quinton Walsh; James and Nicholas Walsh; Kyle and Cory Walsh; Heather, David, Margaret (Maggie), and Katie Brace; Logan, Shannon, Regan and Nathan Mars; and Allexa, Connor and Cooper Ceballos.

Visitation hours were held from 5-8pm on Friday, July 27, 2012 at Sacred Heart Church, 910 Main St. South, Southbury, CT and a Mass of Christian Burial was held on Saturday July 28, 2012 at 10am and also at Sacred Heart Church, Southbury. Carpino Funeral Home in Southbury, Ct managed the arrangements www.carpinofuneralhome.com.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to either the Sacred Heart Church “Mustard Seed Fund”, 910 Main Street South, Southbury, CT 06488 www.sacredheartchurch.info, the Heritage Village Ambulance Association, PO Box 2045, Southbury, CT 06488 www.hvambulance.org or Autism Speaks www.autismspeaks.org