James Paul Durkan

On May 9, 2018, James Paul Durkan Jr. (Jim) of Crownsville, Maryland passed away. Jim is survived by his beloved wife, Donna Forbes, and his children, Catherine Durkan (Zachary, Jane Bornstein), Anne (Jeff, Adam, Grace Johnson), Barbara (Anders, Kate, Andrew Axelsson), Thomas (Kim, Jordan, Rion Durkan), and Mark (Kaitlyn, Wiley, Sawyer Muchmore). James was predeceased by his parents, James Paul Sr. and Elizabeth Julia Romans, and his former wife Marion Elizabeth Fuehrer.

Jim was born in Baltimore, Maryland on January 13, 1934, and was a graduate of Loyola High School (Class of 1951), and a magna cum laude graduate of Loyola University Maryland (Class of 1955). He attended The University of Maryland Medical School where he graduated magna cum laude in 1959. Thereafter he began his career in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Mercy Hospital in Baltimore. Jim was the Chairman of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Mercy for 23 years, and was on the faculty of the University of Maryland Medical School.

In 1991, Jim became Chairman of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Saint Elizabeth’s Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts, where he oversaw the opening of the St. Margaret’s Center for Women and Infants. Jim also served on the medical faculty of Tufts University.

Jim retired in 2000 and returned home to Maryland, where he resided in Crownsville until his passing.

Throughout his adult life, Jim loved golf, bowling, cards, travel, reading, and spending time with his children and grandchildren. Jim will be remembered for his faith, his commitment to his loving wife, Donna, and the pride he took in his family.

A service of Catholic Mass will be held on May 29, 2018, at 10:30 am at St. John Neumann Catholic Church, 620 Bestgate Road, Annapolis, MD 21401. In lieu of flowers, Jim's family asks that donations be made in his name to The Mandrin Hospice House, 3675 Solomons Island Road, Harwood, Maryland 20776.