James Charles Lafferty

James C. Lafferty passed away at his home in Clifton, Virginia surrounded by family. Jim was born in Philadelphia, PA to James and Margaret Lafferty. An avid reader, Jim would call on a vast collection of historical and cultural references to entertain family and friends in conversations around the dinner table, and his passion for music offered a lively backdrop to many of his pursuits. Baseball was Jim’s sport, making it the family sport too. During the season, when he wasn’t listening to Brazilian jazz, Frank Sinatra, or Henry Mancini, he was watching the Washington Nationals. Everyone knew, don’t call him during the game or God forbid if you stand in front of the TV. But most of all his love of his family as a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, patriot, and a man of God was apparent in his life. Jim had extensive experience as an executive in the federal government, in senior staff positions in the Congressional leadership, in public relations agencies in New York and Washington, DC and as an award-winning investigative journalist. He served as President of the Policy Communications Group, a political strategy and public relations firm, based in Washington, DC, with clients around the world. He counselled candidates and managed state and federal campaigns (e.g., former Congressman Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD), the late Congresswoman JoAnn Davis (R-VA) in American elections and advised kings, traditional leaders and government officials in Ghana, Honduras, Congo, Cote d’Ivoire and other nations. Under the Speakership of Newt Gingrich, Jim served as Press Secretary and Communications Director to House Majority Whip Tom Delay. Earlier he was the Press Secretary/Spokesman for the Joint Economic Committee of Congress and a member of the staff of the House Republican Study Committee. He was appointed by President Reagan to Director of Public Affairs, U.S. Office of Personnel Management. He headed the United States delegation to a conference on Privatization of Government Functions, chaired by Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. Under President George H.W. Bush, he was appointed Director of the Office of Communications and Legislative Affairs at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Later, he was appointed Deputy Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Mr. Lafferty worked for public relations firms in New York and Washington where he won awards for his supervision of crisis communications units. He worked as an investigative journalist on several Philadelphia area newspapers. He served in the United States Naval Reserve and aboard the USS RICH (DD-820) and at the U.S. Naval Base Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Jim is lovingly remembered by his wife and best friend Andrea Sheldon Lafferty, his children Rebecca Lafferty, Jim Lafferty (Melina Hammer), Elizabeth Shannon Lafferty and Daniel Lafferty, and granddaughters Madeline Lafferty and Caoilainn Couch. Following a private family funeral, Jim will be laid to eternal rest at Quantico National Cemetery. Plans are being made for A Celebration of Life to be held in the coming weeks. Donations to further Jim’s vision may be made online at: James Lafferty Memorial Fund By check: WGA-James Lafferty Memorial Fund, 7042 Balmoral Forest Road, Clifton, VA 20124