James Owen Colleary

James Owen Colleary, of New Rochelle and Larchmont, New York, passed away peacefully on February 20, 2026, surrounded by his three adoring daughters.

He was best known to those who loved him as “Jimmy” or “Owen.” Born on May 23, 1948, at New Rochelle Hospital, he was the son of the late Beatrice Niblock and Owen B. Colleary, who met in New York after emigrating from Ireland.

A graduate of Blessed Sacrament High School (Class of 1966), Jimmy was a standout athlete, playing split end and safety on the football field, point guard on the basketball court and second base on the baseball field. Jimmy was a lifelong fan of Iona Basketball, Notre Dame Football and the New York Mets.

Jimmy attended Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut before beginning his distinguished 30-year career as a service technician at Verizon (f/k/a New York Telephone Company, Bell Atlantic and NYNEX). After retiring from Verizon, he joined the City School District of New Rochelle, where he worked as an aide and security guard, supporting children at Trinity Elementary School and Isaac E. Young Middle School for nearly 20 years.

Jimmy was a proud veteran of the United States Navy, having served on the USS America (CVA66) aircraft carrier in the Asian Pacific during the Vietnam War.

Above all else, Owen most cherished his role as the devoted father of his three daughters, Meaghan, Catherine (“Katie”) and Mary Margaret. He happily coached them in t-ball, softball, and soccer, in Pelham and Larchmont, and coached their Catholic Youth Organization basketball teams at St. Augustine for several years. As a member of Coveleigh Club in Rye, Owen proudly cheered his daughters on in their swim team meets and tennis matches (and regularly oversaw sprints on the beach to ensure they maintained their speed). As the girls got older he was a frequent presence on the sideline at Mamaroneck High School watching them play field hockey, basketball, and tennis.

James Owen’s favorite pastime was fishing, and he was often found casting a line from the water’s edge at Jones Beach and in Long Beach Island, where he enjoyed summer visits for many years with his fan club of nieces and nephews. Another favorite summer spot was Chatham on Cape Cod, where he enjoyed fresh-water fishing with the Thompson clan. In his later years, James Owen relished his role as “Grandpa” to Finn, Rowan and Gracie, to whom he passed along his love of fishing, sports, ice cream, and rambunctious play. He was the founder and president of the “Wise Guy Club” of which Mary and Finn are the surviving members and Gracie is a member-in-training.

James Owen will forever be known for his warm, gentle, soft-spoken and lovable demeanor and his priceless sense of humor and playful mischief. He is survived by his daughters, Meaghan Foley (Timothy), Katie Colleary and Mary Margaret McQuillin (Eric); grandchildren, Finn, Rowan and Gracie; and former spouse and dear friend, Elizabeth Thompson Colleary.

James Owen was preceded in death by his sister, Patricia McCarthy (Walter), and is survived by his sister, Eileen Canavan (John), and brothers, Michael Colleary (Anne) and Brian Colleary (Ann). Uncle Jimmy (or Uncle Owen) was the most adored “FUNcle” and is survived by many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews and cousins.

Family and friends are invited to gather on Friday, February 27th from 4:00-8:00pm at John J. Fox Funeral Home, 2080 Boston Post Road in Larchmont. A Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, February 28th at 11:00am at St. Augustine Church in Larchmont. A Celebration of Life will immediately follow the Funeral; details to follow (all are welcome).

In lieu of flowers, donations in James Owen’s memory can be made to the New Rochelle YMCA (https://nrymca.org), where he was a lifelong member.