James J. McGinnis Jr., 75, of North Easton died quietly due to Melanoma Cancer with his wife by his side at the Braemoor Nursing and Rehab Brockton Monday December 8, 2014. He was the husband of Ruth Ann (Ryder) Unick McGinnis. James was born in New Bedford to the late James J. McGinnis and Catherine (Burton) McGinnis Draper. He was raised in Brockton and graduated from BHS in 1957. As a youth he played baseball and basketball for the Central Methodist Church and he also sang in the St. Paul’s Episcopal Church boys church choir. He was blessed with a perfect Irish Tenor voice.
Following graduation he enlisted and served in the US Navy aboard the USS Randolph Aircraft Carrier. He enlisted for six years both active and reserve. Later Jim became a lifetime member of the Amvets Post 1977 Stoughton. He was an active and involved member of District 6 Amvets helping to organize local parties and cookouts as well as off station parties for post 51 in Randolph. He was also member of the Sons of the American Legion Stoughton and the Randolph Elks. He was active at the Brockton VA Hospital and together with his wife Ruth Ann co-chaired with hard work and diligence a very successful clothing drive.
Jim was an Electronics Engineer who attended Wentworth Institute and later graduated with a bachelors in Electronic Engineering from Northeastern University. In his early years Jim worked for RCA, later the Honeywell Corporation, and retired from Bull Electronics in 2000.
In his recent years he and his wife wintered in Port St. Lucie FL enjoying an active social life. Jim was active playing shuffleboard, billiards, Ping Pong etc. as well as attending plays and concerts and Ballroom dancing.
He will be remembered as a father and grandpa who enjoyed coaching his sons little league team; his love of animals; his strong religious conviction and the ability to be “strong, proud,and gentle” all at the same time..
In addition to his wife, Jim is survived by his children; Karen M. Steele, Kevin J. McGinnis and Cindy L. Celia all of Brockton and Scott M. McGinnis of Jamaica Plain; his step children Theresa J. Cordaro of Brockton, Jerome “Jay” A. Unick Jr of CT, Pauline C. Bolieiro and her husband Louis of Middleboro, John C. Unick and his wife Echo of Wareham, Kristin (Ficks) Cahill and her husband Kevin; his 17 grand and 4 great grandchildren. He was also the former husband of Lois (Barnes) Williams of FL and Nancy (Pena) Ficks McGinnis of NH. Jim was predeceased by his son David M. McGinnis and stepfather Earl Draper.
Visitation will be Friday 5-8pm in the Conley Funeral home 138 Belmont Street (Rte 123) Brockton. A procession will form at the funeral home Saturday at 9am for a funeral mass at 10am in Immaculate Conception Church, North Easton. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery. In memory of Jim donations may be made to My Brother’s Keeper, P.O. Box 338, No. Easton, MA 02356 or to the Immaculate Conception Church, 193 Main St., North Easton, MA 02356.