Raymond Joseph James

Raymond Joseph James of Chester died Tuesday, October 2, 2001 at Anne Arundel Medical Center in Annapolis, Maryland after a brief illness. He was 89. A former resident of Danbury, Connecticut for over 50 years, Mr. James was born in Dorchester, Massachusetts on December 10, 1911, the son of the late Nicholas Harry James and Mabel Brigit Diggins James. During his youth, Mr. James was active in the entertainment industry; most notably he played the drums in a number of bands throughout northern New England, including Dick McGinley’s Big Band featured in various clubs throughout the Boston area. Just before WWII, after securing a position with Sears Roebuck in Danbury, Ct. in 1936, he married the former Kathleen White of Somerville, MA. Mr. James formed his own band in Danbury, The Ray James Orchestra, which was a popular dance band for many years in Fairfield County and nearby New York State Counties as well. He was the comedic Master of Ceremonies for many local talent shows at the local theaters during the late 30’s and for various service clubs as well. In 1943, Mr. James enlisted in the Navy and served on the Hospital Ship Tranquility in the Pacific as a Pharmacist Mate. His time in the Navy was spent caring for the casualties brought from the various battles in the Pacific and during the period just before the Japanese surrender. During off duty hours, he was the drummer in the ship’s band and MC’d and performed his own nightly comedy shows and music of the day for the patients and personnel on board. After the war, he reactivated his band again and worked for local real estate developer, George Roth Enterprises as a salesman. In 1952, he opened his own residential real estate firm, the Ray James Agency. He was responsible for numerous residential projects in the Danbury area, securing properties for home builders and later, he represented a major commercial developer as their representative in commercial development and leasing, the last project being Berkshire Industrial Park in Bethel, CT. Raymond and Kathleen enjoyed a joyous marriage, enjoyed traveling both abroad as well as through the US and Canada. After his retirement, Mr. & Mrs. James, affectionately known as Mema and Tutu, moved to Kent Island on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. In addition to his wife, he is survived by a son, Raymond Silvester James of Danbury, CT; a daughter, Beverly James Coyne of Stevensville; three grandsons, Raymond Charles James of Danbury, CT, Daniel James Coyne of Baltimore and Charles J. Jennings of Brookfield, CT; a granddaughter, Erin Elizabeth Coyne of Stevensville; and three great-grandchildren, Christopher, James, and Arianna. He is predeceased by a brother, Arthur, and three sisters, Eleanor, Mildred and Beatrice. Services will be held 11:00AM on Friday, October 5, 2001 at St. Christopher’s Catholic Church, Chester. Family and friends may call at Fellows, Helfenbein & Newnam Funeral Home, P.A., Chester, on Thursday, October 4, 2001 from 7pm till 9pm. Burial will be at Stevensville Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Red Cross September 11 Fund C/O American Red Cross of the Delmarva Penninsula 706 Idlewild Avenue Easton, Maryland 21601