An obituary from Magner Funeral Home’s website:
James John Mulhearn, Jr., (Jim) 68, of Norwalk, CT passed away peacefully on August 8, 2015 after a long and courageous battle with ALS. Born on December 7, 1946 in Brooklyn, he was the son of Jean Mulhearn and the late James J. Mulhearn. He is also predeceased by his sister, Dorothy Riordan Rohe.
James Mulhearn Jr. of Norwalk (1946 to 2015)
He is survived by his devoted wife, Ellen Steese Mulhearn, his mother, Jean Mulhearn of Garden City, his loving daughter, Allison Mulhearn of New York, New York, his stepsons Matthew Steese (Elizabeth) and Peter Steese (Lauren), three grandsons, and many loving nieces, nephews and cousins.
A graduate of St. Francis Prep and St. Francis College in New York and served in the Air Force during the Vietnam War. After his discharge, he was a bond-trader and salesman at Merrill Lynch and Chase Manhattan Bank on Wall Street.
Jim was a passionate sports enthusiast and number one fan of his favorite teams; the Brooklyn Dodgers, New York Giants, Princeton Men’s Lacrosse team and Darien Football Team. He will be honored by the Blue Wave this season with the decal “JM” on the back of their helmets.
He was a Civil War buff, an active tennis player at Roton Point, and a devoted member at the United Church of Rowayton. Jim was committed to finding a cure for ALS. He was an inspirational member of the ALS Connecticut chapter and spoke alongside his neurologist, Dr. Huned Patwa, to Yale medical students each semester to share his journey with ALS. His ultimate sacrifice was the donation of his brain and spinal cord to the Department of Veterans Affairs Biorepository Brain Bank for ALS research.
Memorial service will be Sunday, Aug. 23, 2015 at 2 p.m. at the United Church of Rowayton: 210 Rowayton Ave., Rowayton, CT 06853.
In lieu of flowers, memorials in his name may be made to the United Church of Rowayton and/or the ALS Connecticut chapter.
“Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal.”(Irish Proverb)
A tribute from the Blue Wave Football Facebook page:
In loving memory of our 12th man, Jim Mulhearn.
Jim Mulhearn, a strong supporter and fan of Darien High School football, passed away last night. He was 68. Mulhearn suffered from ALS, attended nearly every Darien High School football game the past season and shared his knowledge of and passion for football with the team.
“Jim was an inspiration to us all, players, coaches and fans,” said Head Coach Rob Trifone. “He suffered from a terrible disease but never once complained about it and became our biggest supporter. He loved football, and sports of all kind. The players on our teams truly looked up to him and viewed him as our 12th man. As such, we plan to dedicate our season to him this coming year.”
Mulhearn, born in Brooklyn, moved to Connecticut as an adult and became a Blue Wave football fan through Coach Trifone. They met at Roton Point where Mulhearn and his wife, Ellen, are members and Trifone runs the aquatic program. Mulhearn also met several of the players who are life guards at the club and was invited to attend some games.
Mulhearn attended nearly every game last year, home and away, and was present for the team’s dramatic Turkey Bowl victory over New Canaan Thanksgiving Day and heartbreaking lost in December to the same team in the State Championship.