James L. Irish

JEFFERSON - James Louis Irish, 86 of Jefferson NH, died on Monday, May 6, 2013 at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Hanover NH. He was born in Auburn, Maine on November 12, 1926, the son of Miriam Downes and Arthur Irish. He and his sister Peg experienced a childhood full of the joys of living among the mountains and lakes of Rangeley, Maine. Following graduation from Rangeley Lakes High School in 1944, he enlisted in the US Army and attended Fort Benning Officer Candidate School. He was commissioned 2 nd Lieutenant in the US Infantry in 1945. He served overseas in the Philippines and was discharged in1944. In 1951 he was recalled to active duty as a 1 st Lieutenant and served overseas in Korea with the Korean Military Advisory Group. He was discharged in 1953. He received his BA from Williams College in 1951 and continued graduate studies at Babson Institute and New York University. From 1953, Mr. Irish was employed by AT & T, New England Telephone Company and Nynex as District Manager in various locations in New England and New York. He retired from Nynex in 1988. In 1990, he moved from Yarmouth, Maine to Jefferson, NH. He worked part time for LL Bean and then became active in the community serving on the Planning Board and volunteering for Caleb Volunteer Caregivers and Weeks Memorial Hospital. Jim was an avid outdoorsman and loved to canoe and fish at his camp on Kezar Lake in Lovell, Maine. He was an AMC and RMC member and together with his wife Winnie climbed all 4,000 footers in New England. They also enjoyed their exciting hiking and biking adventures in Asia and Europe. During the long cold winters in northern New Hampshire, Jim could always be found skiing down the Cannon Mountain slopes. He belonged to the 80 Ski Club and the Cannon Mountain Cruisers. Mr. Irish is survived by his wife Winifred Ward of Jefferson, NH, a son and daughter-in-law, John and Elaine Kemna Irish of Chicago, IL, a son, Bradley Irish of Portland, ME, a daughter and son-in-law, Susan Irish and James Gist of Philadelphia, PA, a daughter, Laurie Irish of San Antonio, TX and one grandchild, Stephanie Irish. He is also survived by a step daughter, Winifred Henchey of Braintree, MA, a step daughter and step son-in-law, Hope and Kevin Scully of White Plains, NY, and two step grandchildren, Lauren and Curtice Scully. A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, May 18 at 3:00 pm at St. John's United Methodist Church in Jefferson, NH. Memorial donations may be made to the Ammonoosuc Conservation Trust, 80 Post Road, Sugar Hill, NH 03586 or The American Himalayan Foundation, 909 Montgomery Street, Suite 400, San Francisco, CA 94133

James L. Irish

November 12, 1926 - May 6, 2013