James J. Clohessy

Jim was born on September 28, 1940, in the town of Ennis in County Clare, Ireland to the late Thomas & Margaret (nee Sheridan) Clohessy. He was a caring and loving brother to his late siblings: Anne Farrelly, Michael Clohessy, John Anthony "Tony" Clohessy, Thomas Vincent Clohessy, and Patricia Dierkes. He will be missed by his loving wife Lina Clohessy, with whom he recently celebrated fifty golden years of marriage, his beloved great-nephew TJ, and many other family and friends.

Jim peacefully transitioned from this world to his heavenly rest while surrounded by Lina and his loved ones, and with his right hand cradled by his grandnephew whom he affectionately called "Mr. TJ". He adored his wife Lina, with whom he travelled to many parts of the world, including his hometown in Ireland.

In the 1950s, teenage Jim immigrated with his family to New York. He loved New York and was proud to be Irish-American, but as Lina puts it, he was Irish through and through. He enjoyed a good Irish breakfast at his favorite restaurant, Shannon Rose, and had fun teaching TJ Gaelic words.

He was a quiet and generous man with a big laugh and a dry wit that regularly caught people by surprise. He stood tall and carried himself with pride and confidence, so much so that he was often mistaken for a medical doctor, while wearing his white lab coat for his job as a STAT Lab Technician at Valley Hospital. He also worked as a Clinical Chemistry Lab Technician at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital, which is where he met his beloved Lina. A little-known fact is that Jim was a US Army Reservist, and he also worked as a cab driver in the 1980s during the Columbia Presbyterian Hospital strike.

Many trophies adorn the den in the home he shared with Lina, including ones he won while playing in the Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center Golf Classic. Aside from golf, he loved taking his nieces and nephews fishing during visits to Ontario, Canada. When his grand-nephew TJ was little, his fishing rods became long swords he and TJ used for sword fighting in the backyard as Lina lovingly looked on.

Jim, your memory will live on forever in our hearts.
As you join your dearly departed, an Irish blessing seems apropos.

May the road rise to meet you
May the wind be at your back
May the sunshine warm upon your face
May the rain fall softly on your fields.

Agus go mbuailimid le chéile arís / And until we meet again

May God hold you in the palm of His hand.