James Michael Moynihan

It is with great sadness that the family of James Michael Moynihan announces his passing on Thursday, April 4, 2019, at the age of 74 years. Dearest father of James C. (Kristen) Moynihan and Jeanene B. (Christopher) Livingston; dearest grandfather of Samuel and Matthew Moynihan and Colleen Livingston; preceded in death by his beloved wife Jana Sims Moynihan and beloved parents James and Hannorah Moynihan.

Jim was born on May 12, 1944 in Queens, New York. As a child, Jim was known for spelling and won a four-year college scholarship and a trip around the world at the age of 13. Jim chose to spend a month in Ireland, seeing family. He earned his BA in Education from St. Bonaventure University and MA in American History from New York University. He worked as a 7th grade history teacher at Madison Township, NJ and then as a Civil Rights Investigator for the Dept. of Education in Washington D.C. He moved to Kansas City, MO when he met his wife, Jana, and continued to work for the Office of Civil Rights.

Jim loved to sing. He started singing barbershop in the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America (SPEBSQSA) while living in Washington DC in 1976. He sang in the Heart of America Barbershop Chorus from 1980-2010 in Kansas City, then in Gentlemen of Sound when he moved to St. Louis, MO in 2010. He was also a lifelong member and office holder of the National Federation of the Blind in Washington D.C., Kansas City, and St. Louis.

Services: Funeral service will be held at the Hoffmeister South County Chapel on Saturday, April 13, 2019 at 1515 Lemay Ferry Road, St. Louis, MO 63125. Visitation will begin at noon with the funeral service beginning at 2pm. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the National Federations of the Blind at NFB.org.