James C. Cooney

James C. Cooney of Vero Beach, FL, Manorville and Bethpage, NY passed away peacefully on September 9, 2022. Jim was a resident of Vero Beach since 1988 and recently relocated to the home of his daughter, Anne Cooney Hartmann, of Deer Park, NY. He is preceded in death by his wife of 66 years, Virginia. He is survived by his five daughters, Virginia Rinehart (Thomas), Carol Cohan (George), Janet Rayve (Mark), Anne Hartmann (Eric), Audrey Watkins (George), and his 13 grandchildren, Erin Cohan, Gregory Cohan (Corrie), Margaret Watkins (James), Sarah Fleischer (Matthew), Rachel Rinehart, Emily Todaro (Joseph), Olivia Gambino (Christopher), Hannah Rayve, James Rayve, Sophie Watkins, Eve Hartmann, Daniel Rayve and Ethan Hartmann, and five great grandchildren, Ruth, Max, Harry, Romeo and Scarlett.

Jim served as a Detective in the New York City Police Department, and worked for the U.S. Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service as a Revenue Officer, from which he retired in 1989. He returned to work again from 1999 to 2011 as a contract background investigator with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Jim served in the U.S. Navy in World War II as a Radioman 3/C. He served at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and at sea, aboard the USS Mattole, AO17 and the USS Adirondack, AGC 15, a communications ship.

Having never completed high school, Jim returned in 1976 to complete his diploma. In retirement, he matriculated into Indian River Community College, where he received a Paralegal Degree.

Upon his initial retirement to Florida, Jim became involved in numerous volunteer pursuits. He lent his time teaching literacy at the Lauback Library; served as a civilian advisor for the Indian River County Metropolitan Planning Organization; as the first President of his Vero Beach condominium association; as a Guardian Ad Litem for children dependent on the state and as a panel member for a juvenile justice arbitration program for the 19th Judicial District in Florida for more than 18 years. He also participated in several Habitat for Humanity projects throughout Indian River County.

Jim loved spending time with his children and grandchildren and they could sit for hours listening to his stories. He was an avid reader, boasting 750 books on his Kindle. You could often find him in the kitchen cooking up a pot of vegetable soup, his famous chili or canning bread and butter pickles.

Jim was a member of Holy Cross Council, Knights of Columbus and a Fourth Degree Knight of the #1932, Father Brady Assembly.

A visitation for James C. Cooney will be held on Wednesday, September 14, 2022 from 2:00 PM to 4:30 PM and 7:00 to 9:30 PM at Claude R. Boyd-Caratozzolo Funeral Home, 1785 Deer Park Ave, Deer Park, New York 11729. A mass of Christian burial will occur Thursday, September 15, 2022 at Ss Cyril & Methodius RC Church, 125 Half Hollow Rd, Deer Park, NY. Interment will follow at Calverton National Cemetery, 210 Princeton Blvd., Calverton, NY 11933.