James M. McCusker Jr.

James M. McCusker, Jr., 76, a 45-year resident of Clinton, Connecticut passed away on Friday, May 17 at Connecticut Hospice after a courageous battle with cancer.

Jim was born in Boston, Massachusetts on December 22, 1936 and raised in Milton, Massachusetts. He graduated from Milton High School and continued on to receive a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Boston College, Class of 1958. After college, he attended Officer Candidate School in Quantico, Virginia and became a 1st Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps. After being commissioned in 1958, he served as an Infantry Officer until 1961.

Jim worked as a Site Selector for Shell Oil and Hess Corporation and then became Northeast Director of Real Estate Development for the McDonald’s Corporation from 1971 to 1986.

Jim also devoted much of his time to community service in Clinton. After retiring from McDonald’s Corporation and serving on Clinton’s Board of Finance, he was elected to 5 terms as First Selectman of Clinton and retired from public service in 2005.

An avid Red Sox fan and talk show junkie, Jim was also involved in Clinton’s Democratic Town Committee, Clinton Education Federation, Families Helping Families, Meals on Wheels and St Mary’s Knights of Columbus.

Jim was married to Judith (Czarnecki) on June 30, 1962 and celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary last summer. Besides his wife, he is survived by four children. Daughter, Jane Higgins and her husband Bob of Windham, NH, son, Jim McCusker and his wife Nell of Deep River, CT, daughter, Krista Ackert and her husband Art of Poughkeepsie, NY and daughter, Maura Doxsee and her husband Jim of Killingworth, CT. Jim is also survived by 7 grandchildren; Alyson, Melissa and Patrick Higgins, Lindsey and Ryan Ackert and Elizabeth and Meghan Doxsee. Jim was preceded in death by his parents James M. and Evelyn (White) McCusker and is survived by his brother Bob McCusker of Boston, MA, Falmouth, MA and Naples, FL; his sister Ellen (McCusker) Affanato and her husband Don of Milton, MA and his sister Maura (McCusker) Devin and husband Bob of So. Weymouth, MA. He also leaves his mother-in-law, Jane Czarnecki of Vernon, CT, his brother-in-law Jack Czarnecki and wife MaryAnn of Sanibel Island, FL as well as many nieces, nephews and close friends.

Visitation will be held at Swan Funeral Home, 80E Main St Clinton on Monday, May 20 from 4pm-8pm. The funeral service will be held at St. Mary’s of the Visitation Church in Clinton on Tuesday, May 21 at 11am. Burial will follow the funeral service at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Clinton, with full military honors.

Memorial donations may be made to Clinton’s Families Helping Families, the Clinton Education Federation, The Henry Carter Hull Library of Clinton or Connecticut Hospice in Branford, CT. Please visit www.swanfh.com for condolences and tributes.