LTC (Ret) James E. McNicholas, Jr.

Beloved husband of 49 years to the late Dorothy H. (nee Higgins); dear brother of Janice (Tom) Garrett and Patricia (Keith) Gregory; brother in law of Dean (Pam), William, late Robert (Eiden) Higgins, Mary (Carl) Johnson and the late Paul Higgins; survived by many special nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews and cousins. Family will be present to receive friends on Wednesday from 4-8PM at the DENGLER, ROBERTS, PERNA FUNERAL HOME, 3070 Delaware Avenue, Kenmore. All are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial Celebrated from St. Rose of Lima RC Church on Thursday at 10:00AM.

Jim will be laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. If desired memorials may be made to the James E. and Dorothy H. McNicholas Endowment Scholarship Fund at Canisius College.

Online condolences may be offered at www.denglerrobertspernafuneral.com

LTC (Ret) James E. McNicholas, Jr., age 77, of Buffalo, NY passed away on Thursday, February 22nd.

He was born on July 3, 1946 in Gloversville, New York, son of the late James E. McNicholas, Sr. and Constance L (McNicholas) Kesner.

Jim was a 1964 graduate of the former Bishop Burke Catholic High School. He was a well-known student athlete in basketball and baseball establishing many school records that held until the school closed in 1974. One remarkable record was scoring on a jump ball tip-in from the foul line, twice in one game. During his senior year, he was honored as the Johnstown Athlete of the Year.

He graduated from Canisius College in 1968 as a 2nd Lt in the US Army. He received his MBA from Sul Ross State University in TX in 1973 and a Master's Degree in Education at Canisius in 1997. He had an illustrious 24-year career in the Army with assignments in Homestead AFB, FL; Korea; Ft. Bliss, TX; Hanau, Germany; Kaiserslautern, Germany and Ft. Ritchie, MD.

He had two assignments as the Assistant Professor and then Professor of Military Science at his beloved Canisius. He was past president of the Canisius Alumni Association, and at the time of his death he was on the Board of Trustees at the school. He was a fixture at all the Canisius basketball and hockey games.

His post-Army career still focused on the military as he started and ran seven JROTC programs throughout the Buffalo school district for 18 years until his retirement. Through his guidance he helped shape the futures of many Buffalo youth. Jim loved the city of Buffalo, his historic home, and his close-knit neighborhood. As an avid Buffalo Bills fan, he was a season ticketholder for over 30 years waiting for the

illusive Super Bowl win. When not cheering on the Bills, he could be found on the golf course at the Cherry Hill Club, on the annual brothers-in-law golf trip, or any course in his many travels.

He was of the Catholic faith and a member of St. Rose of Lima parish.

He is survived by two sisters, Janice (Tom) Garrett of Lancaster, Pennsylvania and Patricia (Keith) Gregory of Leland, North Carolina; one stepsister, Anne Abplanalp, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, brothers in-law, Dean (Pam) Higgins of Saratoga Springs, New York and William Higgins (Saratoga Springs, New York, and sisters-in-law Mary (Carl) Johnson of Easton, Maryland and Eidin Beirne of Troy, New York. He was beloved by his 11 nieces and nephews, Whitney (Dan) Keaton of Ashburn, VA, Amy (Mihail) Belicev of Falls Church, VA, Kathleen Gregory of Oakton, Virginia and PFC Daniel Gregory of McHenry, Maryland, Rita (Paul) Higgins of Westport, Massachusetts, Anders (Alisha) Johnson of Milton, Massachusetts, Benjamin (Rebecca) Johnson of Weybridge, Vermont, Patrick (Tamara) Higgins of Austin, Texas, Erinn (Michael) Higgins-Levis of Clifton Springs, New York, Clare (Timothy) Dunne of Rockaway, New York and Max Higgins of Greenville, South Carolina and 14 great nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his wife, Dorothy Higgins McNicholas, his step-sister, Ruth Butler, his brothers-in-law, Robert Higgins and Paul Higgins. Visitation for family and friends will be Wednesday, February 28th from 4-8pm at Dengler, Roberts, Perna Funeral Home, 3070 Delaware Avenue, Kenmore, NY 14217

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Rose of Lima on Thursday, February 29th at 10:00AM.

Interment will be at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.

Donations can be made to the James E. and Dorothy Higgins McNicholas College Fund at Canisius College.