James John Cronin

(April 29,1926-February 9,2022)

Jimmy Cronin, a Croton on Hudson resident for more than 56 years, died peacefully in his home at the age of 95 surrounded by his wife (Gaynell) and four children (Claire, Meaghan, Jay, and Maura).

Jimmy was born on April 29, 1926 to Kathleen and Timothy Cronin in Ossining, NY. He attended the local schools, went to Havard University and then graduated from Catholic University where he fell in love with the theater arts. After touring with summer theater groups, he also worked at CBS as an editor and producer, winning two Emmys. Jimmy left the metropolitan area and went to the Midwest to teach at Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame IN, where he fell in love with his wife Gaynell Bordes. Moving back to Croton on Hudson, he founded Del Sol Productions, which played a major role in creating the inside of the Vatican Pavilion for the 1964 World’s Fair. After the World’s Fair his creativity overflowed, and he founded multiple start up companies: Del Sol, Unicorn Creations, Arena Letters, Olive Branch and Ikonographics which focused on the spiritual life and faith formation.

Always active in the community and the theater arts, he and Gaynell led the Croton Children’s Theater for more than fifty years where generations of youth were engaged in understanding how to work together to bring life to the imagination.

Jimmy loved lively conversations about politics and sports. His brilliant mind always challenged us, but he was never without a good joke and a hearty laugh. Telling stories to his children, ten grandchildren (Sarah, Maggie, Peter, Emma, Tess, Lily, Luke, Ellie, JJ and Ida) and sons and daughter in law was a ritual during Sunday night dinners. Every week he would pray for “all the hungry children in the world”, which reminded us all about to look at the world with open hearts and minds.

Jimmy loved Diet Dr. Pepper, baseball caps, and the story of Noah’s ark as well as vintage toys, the theater, and lots of butter on his dinner rolls. He was a creative, compassionate, loving and faith filled friend to all. An inveterate storyteller, he now he gets to be one.

Visitation at Holy Name of Mary Church Croton on Hudson, N.Y., Friday, 11 February, 4pm-7pm (Prayer Service at 6pm).

Funeral Mass at Holy Name of Mary Church, Croton on Hudson, N.Y., Saturday, February 12 at 2pm and will be live streamed at this address: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzfjo6LOzdqIcOJ24PYqZzg.

Interment to follow at Bethel Cemetery, Croton-on-Hudson, N.Y.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his memory to African Women's Educational Fund https://awef.org/donate

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.efcarterfuneralhome.com for the Cronin family.