James Michael (Jim) Rafferty, Age 71, of Fernandina Beach, FL and Winchester, MA passed away December 7, 2020 at home, surrounded by his loving family after a fifteen-month battle with cancer.
He was born in New York City to the late George and Mary Agnes (nee Doherty), the youngest of their five children. Raised in the Bronx, New York, he had a great childhood in the neighborhood of Kingsbridge with lifelong friends. He was a graduate of Manhattan Preparatory High School and Manhattan College.
Jim had a deep-rooted love of family and they were always his number one priority. Nothing made him prouder than his son, Sean, and his grandsons, Colin and Sean. He shared with them his love of baseball, fishing, and boating. A kind and gentle man, Jim loved nothing better than telling a great story, at which he was masterful. He was always full of laughter and good-natured joking. If he could do a favor for someone, he never hesitated. Anyone was blessed to have Jim as a friend. Jim valued his community and was active in the Knights of Columbus and the Elks.
Jim retired from a 35-year career with the U.S. Treasury Department and the Department of Homeland Security. He began his career as a U.S. Customs Service Sky Marshal in response to aircraft hijackings in 1970. He was selected to be a U.S. Customs Service Special Agent and graduated from the U.S Treasury Law Enforcement Officer Training Academy in Washington D.C. James transferred to the Drug Enforcement Administration as a Special Agent in New York and later returned to the U.S. Customs Service where he served as a Special Agent, Group Supervisor, Regional Director, Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Coordinator, and Assistant Special Agent in Charge for New England.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents, brother John and sister Geraldine Corrigan (Tom). He is survived by his loving wife, Mary Jane; devoted son, Sean and his wife, Nicole; his grandsons, Colin James and Sean Patrick; brother, George and his wife, Barbara of Dumont, New Jersey; sister, Marion Ryan and her husband Michael of Croton-on-Hudson, New York; and sister-in-law Linda Steiniger of FL. He will be deeply missed by his many cousins in Ireland and England. In addition, he is survived by generations of nieces and nephews, extended family members and close friends.
Jim’s family would like to thank the Gastrointestinal Cancer Team at Massachusetts General Hospital for the loving care and support they gave him.
The family will receive visitors on Monday, December 14, 2020 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Costello Funeral Home, 177 Washington St., Winchester, MA and are asked to enter through the front door, wear masks and practice social distancing. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held Tuesday, December 15, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Mary’s Church, 155 Washington Street, Winchester, MA and will be followed by burial in Wildwood Cemetery, Winchester, MA.
In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made in memory of James M. Rafferty to support the De La Salle Christian Brothers, P.O. Box 238, Lincroft, NJ 07738, or the Franciscan Sisters of Atonement, 41 Old Highland Turnpike, Garrison, NY 10524 www.graymoor.org.