James F. Conahan

James F. Conahan, 82, of Wilkes-Barre died Thursday with his family at his side.

Born 10 August 1926 in Bethlehem he was a son of the late Francis J. and Anna Barager Conahan.

Jim was a 1944 graduate of Bethlehem Catholic High School and earned his bachelors degree from Moravian College in 1952.

After high school he joined the United States Marine Corps and served our county during World War II and the Korean Conflict in the Pacific Theater and China.

Following his war service, Jim was employed for twenty-two years by Metropolitan and Provident Mutual life insurance companies.

In 1953, he and the former Clare Dickert celebrated their wedding and started their family together. They moved to Wilkes-Barre in 1959 and Jim started his career in public service, joining the staff of City Hall under former City Manager Bernard Gallagher. He then served under four mayors; Frank Slattery, Walter Lisman, Tom McLaughlin and Lee Namey.

Jim was Administrator of Housing and Rehabilitation and, in 1981, was named Director of the Office for Community Development. In 1986, he was named City Administrator, serving until 1988, at which time he returned to the Office of Community Development. He retired from Wilkes-Barre City government in 1989 and returned to the private workforce to become credit manager for Eastern Insurance Group of Wilkes-Barre until his retirement.

Jim served the community through his contribution to various boards and authorities. He was named to the Wilkes-Barre parking authority under the tenure of then-mayor Frank Slattery and currently served as its Chairman. In 1972, he became a charter member of the Luzerne County Transportation Authority, serving as the original secretary and later as Chairman. Jim was appointed to the Wyoming Valley Sanitary Authority in 1985 and currently served as its Secretary. He received an award from the Pennsylvania Municipal Authority for more than twenty years of service.

A member of the Parish of Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Jim was a former member of the Parish of Saint Aloysius where he was active with the choir and Holy Name Society and served as a charter member of the Finance Committee. He was also a member of American Legion Post #609, Saint Conrad’s Society, Greater Wilkes-Barre Friendly Sons of St. Patrick and was a past Grand Knight of Knights of Columbus Trinity Council in Bethlehem.

His voice contributed to the Wyoming Valley Barbershop Chorus, which he enjoyed tremendously. His Irish pride contributed to his being named “The Friendly Son of the Year” in 2002 and Grand Marshal of the Wilkes-Barre Saint Patrick’s Day Parade in 2004. And his enduring faith contributed to his award honoring forty years of attendance from the L.J. Ferdinand Men of Malvern.

Jim was known to give freely of his personal time. In the 1950s, he was the alumni athletic director for Bethlehem Catholic High School. In Wilkes-Barre, he was an officer and umpire for more than twenty years with his good friend, the late Jack Leighton at St. Therese’s Little League Baseball. He was a Little League and Inter-District umpire for fifteen years.

Above all else, Jim was committed to his family. His wife died 3 January 1998 and a brother, Joseph also preceded him in death.

He is survived by six children, Mary Ann King of Wilkes-Barre, Joan and her husband Jim Finn of Wilkes-Barre, Patricia and her husband Crawford McFerran of York, Frank J. and his wife Lorraine Conahan of Cleveland, Ohio, Carol and her husband Don Gaetano of State College and James and his wife Renee Conahan of Wilkes-Barre and two sisters, Sr. Mary Conahan of the Medical Mission Sisters of Fox Chase and Frances Bender of Bethlehem.

He was immensely proud of his fourteen grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Funeral will be held Monday at 9 AM from McLaughlin Family Funeral Service, 142 South Washington Street, Wilkes-Barre with Funeral Mass at 9:30 AM in Church of Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception. Interment will be in Saint Mary’s Cemetery in Hanover Township.

Friends may call Sunday from 5 to 8 PM