obituaries

James McDermott

Bunker Hill |

 James A. McDermott, Sr. (Jim), 63 currently of Bunker Hill, Illinois died on Friday, May 16, 2014 at 11:18 am from bladder cancer.

 Jim was born at Mercy Hospital in Portland, Maine on April 21, 1951 to the late Dr. Leo James McDermott and Jane Bernice (Haley). He was the fourth of five children. Jim was a communicant of St. Dominic’s Roman Catholic Parish in Portland and attended Sacred Heart School where he participated as an altar server through college. He graduated, as did his older brother and father, from Cheverus High School. He graduated from St. Louis University and married his loving wife Rosalind Anne (Daly) on May 11, 1974. Jim spent most of his work life teaching special needs children. Jim retired as the Special Education Department Head, Work Experience Coordinator and Emergency Operations Coordinator at Nottingham Community Access Job Training High School in May of 2014. He served in many capacities with the American Heart Association, beginning in St. Louis where he served as a Program Associate for Emergency Cardiac Care and Fitness Programs between 1980 and 1985. He volunteered with local fire departments and emergency agencies as a paramedic, basic life support instructor, EMT instructor, CERT instructor over the period of more than thirty years. In 1985, his family moved to the Birmingham, Alabama area as he became the Affiliate Program and later Management Director for the American Heart Association, Alabama Affiliate. He was very involved in multi-agency programs and was the co-founder of the Coalition for a Tobacco-Free Alabama. He was a recipient of numerous awards from the State of Alabama for his tenacious work with health agencies and efforts to protect children’s health. Jim was also very active with the Knights of Columbus and had served in several leadership positions at the local and state levels. He was recognized by the Alabama State Council as the 1994-1995 Knight of the Year. Jim was an amateur radio enthusiast and member of the Lewis and Clark Radio Club. He was a Skywarn weather spotter and enjoyed his volunteer work in many local community service events.

 He is survived by his wife, Rosalind (Buzzy), of Bunker Hill, IL; children –Erin of Alton and James Jr. (Seamus) of New Orleans, LA. He leaves four grandchildren, Andrew, Carey, Emily and Olivia McDermott, all of Alton. Surviving siblings include Leo J. McDermott, Jr. of Wilmington, DE; Frances T. Driscoll of Portland, ME; Jane B. McDermott, Jr. of South Portland, ME and Susan E. Mortenson of Scarborough, ME. Surviving are also brothers-in-law Anthony C. Daly, S.J. of St. Louis; Thomas M. Daly of Alton, IL; Richmond Anderson of Auburn, CA and Lee Mortenson of Scarborough, ME; and three sisters-in-law, Sr. Thomas More Daly, OSU of Alton, Angela Anderson of Auburn, CA and Ellen Daly of Alton. He was preceded in death by his parents, sister-in-law Sharon (Guimont) McDermott, and brothers-in-law, Walter H. Daly and Robert F. Driscoll, Jr.

Visitation will take place on Tuesday, May 20, 2014 from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the family home of Thomas and Eileen Daly at 1199 McPherson in Godfrey, IL. (Zip Code 62002). Requiem Mass will be held at SS Peter and Paul Church, 717 State Street at 11:00 am on Wednesday, May 21, 2014. Msgr. Kenneth Steffen and Anthony C. Daly, S.J. will be officiating. Friends and family are invited to enjoy fellowship and refreshments at 251 Schwinn Lane in Bunker Hill, IL after the Mass. Interment of the ashes will take place at a later date at Calvary Cemetery in South Portland, Maine. Staten-Fine Funeral Home (Alton, IL) is in charge of the arrangements.

Please DO NOT SEND FLOWERS. Memorials may be made to: Nottingham CAJT High School, Brian G. O’Connor, Principal. 4915 Donovan Ave., St. Louis, MO or SS Peter and Paul School, 801 State Street, Alton and or Sister Adorers of the Precious Blood, 166 State St. Portland, Maine.

Online tributes and condolences can be found at www.staten-fine.com


Obit Provided By:
Staten, Fine & Burke Funeral Home

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