James Corcoran
December 15, 1916 — December 17, 2009
James “Jim” Corcoran, 93, passed away on Thursday, December 17, 2009 after a brief illness. A Stamford resident for many years, he was an active member of St. Maurice parish. Born December 15, 1916 in Brooklyn, NY, he was the son of Senator James Corcoran and Mary Genevieve deLacy Corcoran. Jim graduated from Brooklyn Prep in 1934 where he played first base on the all-city baseball team. He graduated from Fordham University in 1938. During his school days he was an usher at Ebbet’s Field, where he could watch the Brooklyn Dodgers’ games.
During World War II, he served as a Lieutenant in the US Navy and participated in three major invasions. A decorated officer he participated in the European and Asiatic-Pacific theaters. Most active in the Mediterranean, his ship supported the invasion at Salerno, served as the “mother ship” during the invasion of the beachhead at Anzio and participated in the battle of Normandy in 1944. Although proud of his service, he was thrilled to arrive home at the end of the war and remembered the feeling of seeing the Golden Gate Bridge as they approached San Francisco Bay. He described it as a very moving experience to be welcomed back on American soil and celebrated along with his fellow servicemen.
In October 1947 he married Geraldine Reardon; they moved to Connecticut in 1954. A chemist by training he worked for the Canada Dry Corporation in their New York offices before the war and returned to build a long career with them afterwards as the head chemist and Quality Control Plant Manager in Greenwich. An expert in citrus flavors, he was a frequent international traveler spending extensive time in Latin and South America, but was always happiest at home. He retired from Canada Dry in 1982.
A devoted golfer and an avid reader, Jim spent many happy hours at Sterling Farms and was a regular at the Darien Library. Once retired, he and Gerry traveled often and enjoyed sharing their memories of each trip. Known for his even temperament, patience, and pride in his family, he was a true gentleman. He never raised his voice, unless it was to cheer on the New York Giants.
He is survived by three sons, Christopher of Stamford, Timothy and his wife Louise of Norwalk, and Matthew and his wife Rose of Stamford; two daughters, Maureen Darash and her husband Tedd of Port Chester, NY, and Clare Purcell and her husband Tom of Stamford. He was very proud of each and every one of his twenty grandchildren; Ryan, Brendan and Patrick Corcoran; Noreen, Timothy, Kevin, and Cara Corcoran; the Darash family: Christine, James and his wife Kristen, Kate, Maggie, John, William, Paul and Peter; Emily and Maura Purcell; and Erin, Matthew and Jimmy Corcoran. He is predeceased by his wife of 58 years, Gerry Corcoran; one son, James A. Corcoran, III; his daughter-in-law, Hilda Tooher Corcoran and his sister, Rita Whelehan. A humble, gracious and faithful man, his quiet determination, optimism, and gentle spirit will be remembered and missed by all who knew him.
A funeral procession will be leaving Nicholas F. Cognetta Funeral Home & Crematory on Monday, December 21, 2009 at 10:10 AM arriving at St. Maurice RC Church, 358 Glenbrook Road, Stamford for a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 AM. Interment will follow at St. Charles Resurrection Cemetery, Long Island, NY. Friends may call at the Funeral Home, 104 Myrtle Avenue, Stamford, on Sunday December 20, 2009 from 4:00 �" 8:00 PM.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Richard L. Rosenthal Hospice Residence, 100 Shelburne Rd., Stamford, CT 06904, or the Visiting Nurse & Hospice Care of Southwestern CT, 1029 E. Main Street, Stamford, CT. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.cognetta.com
During World War II, he served as a Lieutenant in the US Navy and participated in three major invasions. A decorated officer he participated in the European and Asiatic-Pacific theaters. Most active in the Mediterranean, his ship supported the invasion at Salerno, served as the “mother ship” during the invasion of the beachhead at Anzio and participated in the battle of Normandy in 1944. Although proud of his service, he was thrilled to arrive home at the end of the war and remembered the feeling of seeing the Golden Gate Bridge as they approached San Francisco Bay. He described it as a very moving experience to be welcomed back on American soil and celebrated along with his fellow servicemen.
In October 1947 he married Geraldine Reardon; they moved to Connecticut in 1954. A chemist by training he worked for the Canada Dry Corporation in their New York offices before the war and returned to build a long career with them afterwards as the head chemist and Quality Control Plant Manager in Greenwich. An expert in citrus flavors, he was a frequent international traveler spending extensive time in Latin and South America, but was always happiest at home. He retired from Canada Dry in 1982.
A devoted golfer and an avid reader, Jim spent many happy hours at Sterling Farms and was a regular at the Darien Library. Once retired, he and Gerry traveled often and enjoyed sharing their memories of each trip. Known for his even temperament, patience, and pride in his family, he was a true gentleman. He never raised his voice, unless it was to cheer on the New York Giants.
He is survived by three sons, Christopher of Stamford, Timothy and his wife Louise of Norwalk, and Matthew and his wife Rose of Stamford; two daughters, Maureen Darash and her husband Tedd of Port Chester, NY, and Clare Purcell and her husband Tom of Stamford. He was very proud of each and every one of his twenty grandchildren; Ryan, Brendan and Patrick Corcoran; Noreen, Timothy, Kevin, and Cara Corcoran; the Darash family: Christine, James and his wife Kristen, Kate, Maggie, John, William, Paul and Peter; Emily and Maura Purcell; and Erin, Matthew and Jimmy Corcoran. He is predeceased by his wife of 58 years, Gerry Corcoran; one son, James A. Corcoran, III; his daughter-in-law, Hilda Tooher Corcoran and his sister, Rita Whelehan. A humble, gracious and faithful man, his quiet determination, optimism, and gentle spirit will be remembered and missed by all who knew him.
A funeral procession will be leaving Nicholas F. Cognetta Funeral Home & Crematory on Monday, December 21, 2009 at 10:10 AM arriving at St. Maurice RC Church, 358 Glenbrook Road, Stamford for a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 AM. Interment will follow at St. Charles Resurrection Cemetery, Long Island, NY. Friends may call at the Funeral Home, 104 Myrtle Avenue, Stamford, on Sunday December 20, 2009 from 4:00 �" 8:00 PM.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Richard L. Rosenthal Hospice Residence, 100 Shelburne Rd., Stamford, CT 06904, or the Visiting Nurse & Hospice Care of Southwestern CT, 1029 E. Main Street, Stamford, CT. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.cognetta.com
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