Little Egg Harbor Resident Finds a Creative Life at Seacrest Village

At The Terraces at Seacrest Village in Little Egg Harbor, Life Enrichment Director Bianca Sutlovich always has a meet-and-greet with new residents shortly after they move in. When James “Jim” Gannon spoke about his passion for drawing and painting, she asked if he might like to join her group art class. Later that month, he led a Sip and Paint activity and was blown away by the community’s artistic talent; Gannon is energized by the opportunity to help others learn and grow.

Gannon knows something about talent. Born in Jersey City and raised in Monmouth County, he found success as a commercial artist in New York City. He fell in love with art in grade school. “One of my teachers asked the class to draw a Thanksgiving turkey, and I watched in amazement as another student drew an elaborate holiday feast,” he recalls. “His level of detail inspired me to pay closer attention to what I tried to draw, and I’ve had a pencil or pen in my hand ever since.”

After graduating from high school, Gannon was accepted to the School of Visual Arts in New York City. However, he decided to enlist in the Army at age 19 and was stationed in Germany for several years. The men he served with were impressed by his artistic ability. “Officers and enlisted guys gave me drawing jobs. They were often cartoons, but I also made serious paintings including portraits of their wives.”

Creating Career Success in New York City

When he returned home, Gannon discovered that he could not afford the cost of art school in New York. “As I was leaving my interview, a gentleman who had overheard the conversation stopped me and said that the teachers in New York taught night school in Newark, and the cost was a lot less. It was like a gift from heaven!”

It was the first of many “gifts” Gannon would benefit from during his career. Following two years of art school, a friend offered him a job at a corporate advertising firm in midtown Manhattan. “I worked with really talented people who taught me so much about design and lettering techniques,” he said. “The pace was very fast – things had to be done quickly and accurately.” Several years later, an art school colleague asked Gannon to join him in starting an agency. “My wife asked her father if we could borrow the money to get the business going. Fortunately, we were successful and I paid back every penny.”

Gannon says he was lucky to work in Manhattan during the 1960s when the advertising industry was booming. “The city was a wonderful place to meet people, many of whom became lifelong friends as well as clients. We did well, building accounts and hiring additional artists to help with the work.” When his partner moved to Florida, Gannon ran the agency on his own before eventually selling it and working for a smaller firm. “At that point, I was tired of the business and knew it was time to leave New York.”

However, he was not ready to retire. He started a business in Red Bank with his brother, then was hired by Costco as head of the photog division. “I often say it was the best job I ever had, and I stayed for about 14 years before I finally retired.”

A New Opportunity to Share His Passion

After retiring, Gannon and his wife enjoyed traveling and visiting family, and he continued to paint and exhibit in art shows. “I’ve never sold anything deliberately. I made a good living in the advertising business and wasn’t looking to get rich on my talent, but people seemed to like my work!” His “fans” included two area churches that commissioned art projects – one of which is still there 50 years later.

When his wife passed aways three years ago, the youngest of Gannon’s two daughters urged him to sell his home in Barnegat and move to The Terraces at Seacrest Village. “I get to meet a lot of different people here and I love that. Who knows, maybe we’ll even get a space where we can paint on a regular basis. That would be terrific.”

Located at 281 Mathistown Road, The Terraces at Seacrest Village is a charming senior living community offering residents an active, worry-free lifestyle in a warm, welcoming environment that includes beautifully appointed apartments, gourmet dining and an engaging mix of programming and activities. They also have access to the services they need, when they need them – including rehab care at Seacrest Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center.