James W. Dwyer

James William Dwyer passed away on Sunday, November 23, 2025 in the loving presence of his family.

Jim was born in Chateaugay, New York on November 3, 1932 during (as he would often remind everyone) “the waning days of the Hoover administration.” He spent his childhood growing up on a dairy farm with his six siblings. In 1951, he left the farm for the big city of New York to attend Fordham University, at times even hitchhiking to get there.

From 1955 to 1961, he was employed at Reaction Motors (later Thiokol) in Denville, New Jersey, where he was a physicist working on rocket propulsion projects in the early days of the Space Race. There he met a beautiful chemist, Rita Dudak, who later became his wife. These two rocket scientists got married in 1963 and went on to have four children, although sadly, the twin of their eldest, sweet baby Matthew, was lost at birth. From 1962 to 1996 Jim worked as a defense contractor for Analytic Services (ANSER).

Through the years, Jim ended up getting back to the North Country quite a bit as he and Rita purchased a summer home on Chateaugay Lake, NY where they created many beautiful memories with their family. Jim enjoyed skiing, golfing, going to the beach, and drinking bourbon on the rocks while eating peanuts. He was a man of devout faith and, as long as he was able, he attended daily Catholic mass. He was kind, silly, faithful, witty, generous and filled with integrity. He will be greatly missed, but we celebrate his reunion with his beloved Rita.

Jim is survived by his three children, Michael Dwyer (and wife, Piedad), Damian Dwyer (and wife, Lynda) and Dulcie Dwyer. Jim also has ten grandchildren: Kathleen Dwyer Maurer (and husband, Anthony), Sophia Dwyer (and fiancé, Tim Goben), Genevieve Dwyer, Jacquelin Dwyer (and boyfriend Filippo Vitale), Claire Dwyer, Adelaide Dwyer, Mason Mahmud, Shane Mahmud, Christian Mahmud, and Marcus Miller. He is additionally survived by two great grandchildren, Giovanni Maurer and Scarlett Maurer. He is predeceased by his parents, William Dwyer and Claire Cassidy Dwyer, his wife, Rita Dudak Dwyer, and his son, Matthew Dwyer. Jim will again return to the North Country just in time for the snow he always loved. He will be buried in Saint Patrick Cemetery in Chateaugay. A wake is scheduled at Chateaugay Funeral Home on December 5 from 5:00 to 8:00PM. A funeral mass will be at Saint Patrick’s Church at 11:00AM on December 6th with a reception to follow at the American Legion.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul https://ssvpusa.org/