James J. "Jimmy" Ahern

ProvidenceJames J. "Jimmy" Ahern, 67, of Priscilla Avenue, died Monday at the Philip Hulitar Hospice Center, Providence. He was the beloved husband of Catherine K. (Walch) Ahern. They had been married for forty-three years. Born in Providence, a son of the late John J. and Mary (Deery) Ahern, he was a lifelong city resident. Mr. Ahern was a teacher, and guidance counselor, at both Mount Pleasant and Central High Schools, for many years before retiring in 1995. He was a 1959 graduate of the Hargrave Military Academy, where he was the M.V.P. of the Basketball team, and a 1965 graduate of Providence College, where he was a Co-Captain of the Basketball Team. He earned a Masters Degree in Education from Providence College in 1970, and soon thereafter, a C.A.G.E.S. Degree from Rhode Island College. A well-known coach throughout Rhode Island, Coach Ahern was honored for his many accomplishments by many organizations. In 1980 and in 2003, he was named the Coach of the Year by the R.I. Interscholastic League. Over the years, he was inducted into the Saint Patrick Parish Hall of Fame, Hope High School Hall of Fame, the Rhode Island High School Basketball Hall of Fame, Words Unlimited Hall of Fame, and in May of this year, he was to be inducted into the Rhode Island Interscholastic League Hall of Fame. He was a communicant of Saint Anthony Church. Beside his wife Catherine, he leaves a daughter, Pauline Ahern; four sons, Dan Ahern, John Ahern, Matthew Ahern and Christopher Ahern; three sisters, Mary Terry, Catherine King, and Pauline McCartney, and four grandchildren, Joshua, Ryan, Jacob, and Zachary. He was a brother of the late Margaret Arnold. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday morning, at 10:00 am, in Saint Anthony Church, 549 Plainfield Street, Providence, to which relatives and friends are invited. Burial will be in Saint Ann Cemetery, Cranston. Visiting hours will be held Thursday from 4 - 9 pm in the Russell J. Boyle & Son Funeral Home, 331 Smith Street, Providence. In lieu of flowers, donations to Saint Patrick School, 152 Holden Street, Providence, RI 02908 in his memory will be appreciated.