JAMES N. McCUNE

McCUNE COL. JAMES NABER McCUNE, Esq. USA (Ret.) "Gentleman Jim" as he is known by many friends, died March 19, 2013, (the Solemnity of Joseph, patron saint of fathers and of the dying). His family was with him. He was born December 2, 1930 to John Joseph McCune, Jr. and Martha Naber McCune in Toledo, Ohio. He is preceded in death by his parents and older brothers, John J. McCune, III and Thomas Francis McCune. He is survived by his son, Dr. Thomas R. McCune (Mollie McCune) of Norfolk, Virginia, daughter, Dr. Kathleen J. McCune (Michael S Ellwood) of Mechanicsville, Virginia and grandchildren James F. N. McCune, Victoria K. P. McCune, Scott B. Ellwood and Meghan C. Ellwood. His first job as a boy was delivering newspapers during the Great Depression. He graduated from Toledo's Scott High School in 1949. The first in his family to attend college, he graduated with a B.S. in Marketing from University of Toledo in 1953 whereupon he enlisted in the U.S. Navy serving as a Medical Corpsman at National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda Maryland. He went on to earn Masters of Law and Juris Doctor degrees from Georgetown Law School in 1961. He was a member of the American Bar Association as well as a 50 year member of the Virginia Bar Association. His legal career began at the Department of Justice in 1961 working first in the Administrative Division and later in the Tax and Civil Rights Divisions. Working under Robert Kennedy during the Civil Rights Movement, Jim was part of the drive to implement the Voting Rights Act of 1964 and instrumental in the Natchez Mississippi School Desegregation Case. He joined the U.S. Army as a Judge Advocate General Officer and served for 30 years. His highest award was the Legion of Merit. Upon military retirement he worked for the U.S. Department of State, practiced law and taught Federal Contracting and Procurement for the University of Virginia extension. In retirement he traveled and connected with friends and family, held season tickets to the Nationals games, and volunteered at the Smithsonian Institute and the McArthur Museum in Norfolk. He was loved and respected by all who knew him. Mass and Internment at Arlington National Cemetery is to occur in the coming months. An Irish wake will be held March 30, 3 to 7 p.m. at his son's home. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to CentralVirginia.JDRF.org are appreciated by the family. Condolences may be offered to the family at www.hollomon-brown.com