James Brendon McCormick
November 23, 1929 ~ June 20, 2022
James B. McCormick passed away on June 20, 2022, surrounded by his children and his devoted wife of 66 years, Pat McCormick.
Jim was born in Queens, NY to William McCormick and Margaret Dolan on November 23, 1929. Upon the death of his mother at age 8, the family moved to Brooklyn where he lived and attended school until he joined the U.S. Army in 1947, at 17 years of age. His first overseas assignment in 1948 was to Hokkaido, Japan where he and his unit lived in Quonset huts. He went on to serve in Korea, Italy, Germany, Vietnam, and numerous states within the USA before retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1974. He loved the army, and often told the story of how it gave his life a sense of purpose. Jim understood that education was the key to changing his life and he took full advantage of the educational opportunities the army provided. While serving, he completed his bachelor’s degree at Syracuse University and went on to earn a master’s degree in Communications from the University of Colorado at Boulder. His service to our country continued for 20 years at the Federal Communications Commission in Washington, D.C.
Jim was witness to seismic events and changes in our world this past century and always had keen insights to offer on historic happenings. He embraced learning and loved the intellectual pursuit of knowledge, which continued throughout his life. His varied interests included the study of architecture, gardening, history, astronomy, literature, photography, and many other subjects. He loved museums and was known to stop at the small and obscure ones encountered on his travels, as well as the more familiar museums of the world. In his retirement, he volunteered at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C. from which he retired as Docent Emeritus after many years of service.
As he got older, Jim readily welcomed and cherished his role as the grandfather of the family. He had a great sense of humor. On his 64th birthday, he played The Beatles song “When I’m Sixty-Four” to the surprise and delight of us all. He was a born storyteller who could captivate audiences of all ages. For many years, Thanksgiving was an unshakable tradition at Jim and Pat’s house. There was never enough room to move easily around the extra-long tables set up in the living room, but that never mattered. Jim always carved the turkey. He loved those Thanksgivings because, above all, he loved having his family all together. Without exception, they loved him too.
Jim loved each of his six children, their spouses, his nephews Tom and Eddie, his twelve grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, his own brothers and sisters and their children. He was a pushover for the littlest ones and used to say, “there is nothing smarter in this world than a 4-year-old!” He was known to be a generous buyer of girl scout cookies and any granddaughter selling cookies would be assured of meeting their troop’s quota with a phone call to Grandpa.
Jim’s most special relationship was reserved for his wife of 66 years. Jim married Marie Patricia Nelson (Pat) on St. Patrick’s Day in 1956. They often laughed at how the priest called her Ruth instead of Pat during their marriage vows. Pat was his keystone. She loved him and emboldened him unconditionally for the whole of his life and hers. They were true partners and shared the same commitment to their family and their life together.
James was preceded in death by his parents, Margaret Dolan and William J. McCormick, sister Eileen McGrath, brothers William and Terence, and nephew Edward McGrath. He is survived by his wife Pat, daughters Mary Linman, Kathleen Wilson (Thomas), and Kerry Konrad (Bruce), sons James (Brenda), Timothy (Susan) and John (Melissa); sisters Margaret Graham and Patricia Tobiasson; nephew Thomas McCormick (Inge), grandchildren Meghan, Mallory, Evan, Ryan, Michael, Hannah, Anders, Benjamin, William, Kate, Joseph and Kelly; and great-grandchildren Kieran, Evelyn, Patricia and Meira. He will be deeply missed by us all.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church, Vienna, VA on Wednesday, June 29 at 11:00 a.m. Burial will be at Arlington National Cemetery at a future date.
The family of James would like to thank everyone for their thoughtful words and acts of kindness.
Please share your own memories or thoughts about Dad, Uncle Jim, or Grandpa. You may post your story or a memorable photo.
Jim was born in Queens, NY to William McCormick and Margaret Dolan on November 23, 1929. Upon the death of his mother at age 8, the family moved to Brooklyn where he lived and attended school until he joined the U.S. Army in 1947, at 17 years of age. His first overseas assignment in 1948 was to Hokkaido, Japan where he and his unit lived in Quonset huts. He went on to serve in Korea, Italy, Germany, Vietnam, and numerous states within the USA before retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1974. He loved the army, and often told the story of how it gave his life a sense of purpose. Jim understood that education was the key to changing his life and he took full advantage of the educational opportunities the army provided. While serving, he completed his bachelor’s degree at Syracuse University and went on to earn a master’s degree in Communications from the University of Colorado at Boulder. His service to our country continued for 20 years at the Federal Communications Commission in Washington, D.C.
Jim was witness to seismic events and changes in our world this past century and always had keen insights to offer on historic happenings. He embraced learning and loved the intellectual pursuit of knowledge, which continued throughout his life. His varied interests included the study of architecture, gardening, history, astronomy, literature, photography, and many other subjects. He loved museums and was known to stop at the small and obscure ones encountered on his travels, as well as the more familiar museums of the world. In his retirement, he volunteered at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C. from which he retired as Docent Emeritus after many years of service.
As he got older, Jim readily welcomed and cherished his role as the grandfather of the family. He had a great sense of humor. On his 64th birthday, he played The Beatles song “When I’m Sixty-Four” to the surprise and delight of us all. He was a born storyteller who could captivate audiences of all ages. For many years, Thanksgiving was an unshakable tradition at Jim and Pat’s house. There was never enough room to move easily around the extra-long tables set up in the living room, but that never mattered. Jim always carved the turkey. He loved those Thanksgivings because, above all, he loved having his family all together. Without exception, they loved him too.
Jim loved each of his six children, their spouses, his nephews Tom and Eddie, his twelve grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, his own brothers and sisters and their children. He was a pushover for the littlest ones and used to say, “there is nothing smarter in this world than a 4-year-old!” He was known to be a generous buyer of girl scout cookies and any granddaughter selling cookies would be assured of meeting their troop’s quota with a phone call to Grandpa.
Jim’s most special relationship was reserved for his wife of 66 years. Jim married Marie Patricia Nelson (Pat) on St. Patrick’s Day in 1956. They often laughed at how the priest called her Ruth instead of Pat during their marriage vows. Pat was his keystone. She loved him and emboldened him unconditionally for the whole of his life and hers. They were true partners and shared the same commitment to their family and their life together.
James was preceded in death by his parents, Margaret Dolan and William J. McCormick, sister Eileen McGrath, brothers William and Terence, and nephew Edward McGrath. He is survived by his wife Pat, daughters Mary Linman, Kathleen Wilson (Thomas), and Kerry Konrad (Bruce), sons James (Brenda), Timothy (Susan) and John (Melissa); sisters Margaret Graham and Patricia Tobiasson; nephew Thomas McCormick (Inge), grandchildren Meghan, Mallory, Evan, Ryan, Michael, Hannah, Anders, Benjamin, William, Kate, Joseph and Kelly; and great-grandchildren Kieran, Evelyn, Patricia and Meira. He will be deeply missed by us all.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church, Vienna, VA on Wednesday, June 29 at 11:00 a.m. Burial will be at Arlington National Cemetery at a future date.
The family of James would like to thank everyone for their thoughtful words and acts of kindness.
Please share your own memories or thoughts about Dad, Uncle Jim, or Grandpa. You may post your story or a memorable photo.
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The Owners and Staff at the Money and King Funeral Home, wish to express our sincere sympathy to you. It is our hope that we may be able to make a difficult time more bearable. Please feel free to call us anytime as we are always available to you. Bob Gallagher Funeral Director