James (Jim) Francis McDonnell, 81, passed away peacefully on Saturday, July 30, 2011 after a brief illness. He was surrounded by his family, in his new home at the Tedwyn Apartments in Bryn Mawr, PA.

Jim was born in Berwyn, PA, to Kathryn (Teehan) and John Carroll McDonnell. He grew up in Wayne, and graduated from Radnor High School in 1947. He served in the U.S. Army at Fort Devens, MA, where he developed several deep and lasting friendships that continued to his death. He married his high school sweetheart, Patricia (Pat) Furey of Strafford, in 1953, and they had seven children together. Jim worked for many years for Breyers Ice Cream, and as a result of that and his earlier stint as a soda jerk at Sigmund's Drug Store (where his romance with Pat was kindled), he remained a discriminating consumer of ice cream. Jim later worked for 22 years for Schering-Plough, retiring as a regional sales manager in 1989.

Following his retirement, Jim and Pat moved from their home of 30 years in Betzwood (Norristown) to Albrightsville in the Poconos, where he pursued his lifelong enthusiasm for fishing on a daily basis. For the past 15 years, they have made Cape Coral, FL, their winter home, where Jim could more comfortably indulge his passion for fishing during the colder months. He had also been an avid hunter earlier in life, but in recent years preferred observing the many species of wildlife that surrounded their home in the Poconos, including a bear who wandered onto their deck two weeks ago. Jim was a fiercely competitive card-player, and was a particularly formidable bridge and pinochle strategist. Jim also enjoyed reading, gardening, and puttering in his workshop.

Jim was a member of St. Peter the Fisherman Church in Lake Harmony, PA, for the past 18 years. For most of that time he and Pat sang in the choir. Prior to their move to the Poconos, Jim was a member of St. Teresa of Avila in Betzwood for 30 years.

Jim enjoyed the music of his and Pat's courting era, particularly the romantic ballads of singers like Frank Sinatra, Andy Williams, Bing Crosby, and Nat King Cole. Two of his all-time favorite songs were "Shanty in Old Shantytown" and "I Sold My Heart to the Junkman", which he was persuaded to sing at many family gatherings. His love of music continued even to his last day, when Jim presided over an impromptu sing-along with his family from his bed.

Jim was known his whole life for his keen sense of humor. His dry wit persisted through his illness, and Jim thoroughly enjoyed joking with the nurses and other care providers that he met during the past couple of months.

Jim is survived by his wife of 58 years, Pat; his children and their spouses Colleen (Glenn) Caffery of Leyden, MA, Jim (Wendy) of O'Fallon, IL, Jeff (Dan Gray) of Mt. Airy, PA, Brian (Julie) of East Stroudsburg, PA, Kathy (Peter) Elsea of Florence, MA, Pamela (Rick) Snow of Exton, PA, and Kevin (Carolyn) of Mont Clare, PA; 11 beloved grandchildren; and his brothers Bud (Pat) of Camarillo, CA, and Dick (Barbara) of Wayne, PA. His brother Ed (Marge) of N. Scituate, MA, predeceased him.

A Funeral Mass is scheduled for 11 AM on Wednesday August 3rd, at Our Mother of Good Counsel Church, 31 Pennswood Rd., Bryn Mawr, PA, with visiting time at the Church beginning at 10. Burial will follow the funeral at Calvary Cemetery in W. Conshohocken.

Donations may be made to the Cure Alzheimer's Fund, 34 Washington St., Suite 300
Wellesley Hills, MA 02481 (www.curealzfund.org). Jim's son-in-law, Glenn, is currently running across the country to benefit that organization, and Jim was a strong supporter of Glenn's effort.