James J. Tiernan, Sr., 91, of Medway died peacefully on Sunday, May 11, 2025 at Heritage Hills Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center in Smithfield, RI.
Born on March 11, 1934 in Boston, MA he was the son of the late John and Winifred (Hunt) Murtaugh.
A true son of the Mission Hill, he fondly recalled many stories of his time growing up in ‘the projects’, including selling newspapers outside Fenway Park to Hall of Famers Joe DiMaggio and Ted Williams.
Jim was a proud Air Force veteran of the Korean War era. He was a radar technician stationed in North Africa for a year and a half, first at Wheelus Air Base located on the coast of Tripoli and then at the Nouasseur Air Base in Morocco.
After being honorably discharged from the service, he returned home and married the love of his life, Noreen (D’Arcy). They moved to Medway in 1963. The two were married for 41 years, until her passing in 1998.
Jim worked in the computer industry for many years, starting out with Honeywell and ending his career as a Manager with the Computervision Corporation in Bedford, MA. He enjoyed time with family, summers at the beach in Marshfield, and road trips to Iowa.
He was dedicated to his family and is survived by four sons, James Tiernan, Jr. and his wife Diane of Upton; Barry Tiernan and his wife Terry of Medway; John Tiernan, Sr. and his wife Barbara of Franklin; and Stephen Tiernan and his wife Paola of Franklin.
He was the proud Grandfather ‘Papa’ to ten grandchildren, James, Molly Finnegan and her husband Joseph, John, Jr. and his fiancé Mikki, Eilish Tiernan and her fiancé Sam, Sarah Grudoff and her husband Jack, Jennifer Tiernan, Rebekah Rego and her husband Kyle, Jack, Andrew and Angela Tiernan. He cherished watching the Patriots, Celtics and the Bruins with his grandkids. He also leaves behind cherished cousins Margaret Joyce and Katherine and Adrian Mungovan of Medford, MA.
In addition to his wife, he was predeceased by beloved sisters/brothers-in-law, Joan (D’Arcy) & John Lose of Des Moines IA, Mary (D’Arcy) & Ed Lose of Des Moines IA, Eileen (D’Arcy) Nathan Alden of Seattle WA, Gerard Joyce Medford, MA; He is also survived by many nieces and nephews in Iowa.
The family would like to thank the VA Boston-West Roxbury, the VA Caregivers Support Program staff for the medical care and support they provided, as well as his favorite family Nurse Benita (Bernard) Murphy for always being there for him.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend his funeral Mass on Friday, May 16 at St. Joseph Church, 151 Village St. in Medway at 11 a.m. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery in Medway.
Calling hours will be held on Thursday from 4 – 7 p.m. in the Ginley Crowley Funeral Home, 3 Barber St. in Medway ginleyfuneralhomes.com
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Court Saint Joseph #1475 of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas (CDA) P.O. Box 557, Medway, MA 02053.