James M. Courtney, Jr., passed away on Saturday, August 31, 2019. The former Monkton resident was 88. Born in Newark, NJ and raised in Livingston, he was the eldest of the late James M. and Dolores (nee Goerdes) Courtney.
He is survived by his children: Jane (Paul Fialcowitz) of York, PA, Deborah (Peter T. Janik, Sr.) of Sparks, MD, Patricia (Leonard H. Gilbert) of Baldwin, MD, Annmarie (Michael S. Davis Sr) of Evansville, WI, Susan (Thomas F. Muniz) of Lynchburg, VA, Helenmary (Gary H. Snyder) of Blandon, PA, Kathleen (Shawn A. Millet) of Bethlehem, PA, James M., III (Karen) of Woodbine, MD, Brendan of Florida, and Elizabeth C. Bon of Perry Hall, MD; 26 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; and Thomas W. of Sewickley, PA and Kevin E. of Tucson, AZ.
He is also survived by his adoring companion Jean Walter and her lovely family.
Jim had a deep love of his family and especially enjoyed multi-generation family vacations. He attended his children and grandchildren’s sporting events, theater and band performances, weddings, and graduations. Jim also enjoyed gardening, maintaining a large garden and multiple fruit trees throughout his lifetime. Always an abundance of fruits and vegetables, his friend’s and family’s favorites were the asparagus and blueberries.
A lifetime lover of baseball, he was an avid Orioles fan. But his favorite team was the current Seton Hall University’s men’s basketball team.
Jim graduated from Seton Hall Prep then received a BS in chemical engineering at Seton Hall University in 1952 and an MBA at Rutgers University in 1962. He was employed in the specialty chemical industry his entire career. Starting at DuPont in their Newark, NJ laboratory and plant as a chemist, Jim moved on to a sales position at Drew Chemical Corporation in New Jersey and Syracuse, NY. Next, joining Armour Industrial Chemical as Sales Manager, he moved his growing family to Chicago, then back to New Jersey. He then joined Trubek Laboratories, a division of UOP Chemical Co., before joining the Washine Division of Mallinckrodt Chemical Works in Lodi, NJ as Manager, Commercial Development.
Jim settled in Mendham, NJ in 1960 with his wife Jane and their family. He was a member of the Pastime Club for which he played five years with their semi-professional baseball team, the Pastime Athletics, and served a term as President of the Club. As an active member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, he coached their CYO high school basketball team for several years. Additionally, he was a member of the Mendham Volunteer Fire Department and the Morris County Jaycees.
In 1972, Jim joined Pearsall Chemical as Executive Vice President of Manufacturing. In1975, promoted to President, he moved his family to Houston, TX.
Wanting to get back to the East Coast, Jim started his own company, Courtney Industries Inc. in 1978. He then moved the company to Baltimore and his family to Glen Arm, MD. As President of Courtney Industries, a specialty chemical manufacturer and distributor, Jim was an active member of the American Chemical Society and the Baltimore Chemical Association. In 1994, Jim retired and sold his company.
In his retirement he fulfilled his lifelong passion for thoroughbred racing. Establishing his own stable in Monkton, he began breeding, training, and racing thoroughbreds. With more than thirty horses running throughout the East Coast from 2000 to present, his horses were first place winners in 68 races and placed in an additional 121. Jim was a Multiple Graded Stakes Placed Owner and in 2003, his horse Finally Here was awarded Maryland-Bred Champion Three-year-old Filly of the Year. He was also a member of the MD Horse Breeders Association, MD Thoroughbred Horseman’s Association, and the PA Horse Breeders Association.
Jim is preceded in death by his wife Jane (nee Weismuller) of 60 years and grandson Peter T. Janik, Jr.
Viewings will be held Tuesday, September 3rd, 2-4 PM and 7-9 PM at Lemmon Funeral Home, 10 W. Padonia Rd, Timonium, MD. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, September 4th at 10 AM, St. John the Evangelist, 13305 Long Green Pike, Hydes, MD. Interment will be private.
Contributions can be made in Jim’s name to the Circle of Hope Therapeutic Riding, Inc., 22500 W. Harris Road, Barnesville, MD 20838.
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