James T. "Buddy" Byrnes Jr.

Father of 9 - Singer Payroll Manager- St Patrick High School Hall of Fame Inductee


James T. Byrnes Jr., "Buddy", 87, of Scotch Plains, formerly of Elizabeth, passed away on Saturday, May 31, 2014. The Funeral will be from St. Bartholomew the Apostle Church, Scotch Plains on Thursday, June 5, 2014. The family will receive relatives and friends at 9:45am until time of mass. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30am. The Interment will follow at St. Gertrude's Cemetery, Colonia. The Visitation will be held on Wednesday, June 4, 2014 at the Rossi Funeral Home, 1937 Westfield Ave. Scotch Plains, from 2-4pm and 7-9pm.

James was born in Elizabeth, NJ. James lived in Elizabeth for 63 years, retired in Brick and has lived in Scotch Plains for the past 10.
Buddy graduated from Saint Patrick's High School (class of 1944) in Elizabeth and was inducted into the School Hall of Fame in 1999. James was the starting center fielder and leadoff hitter on the highly respected Celtics baseball team. Buddy was also a member of the 1944 Union County Championship Basketball Team. He was active in other school activities, acting as Advertising Manager for the 1944 Celtic Cross and a Lead Role and Opening Act in the 1944 School Play, "No Greater Love". After graduating from St. Pat's Buddy enlisted in the U.S. Navy serving on the attack transport ship USS Westmoreland in the Pacific Ocean, receiving an Honorable Discharge in 1946 as a Storekeeper 3rd Class, receiving the Victory Medal, American Theater Medal, and the Asiatic-Pacific Medal. Mr. Byrnes was the President of the St. Patrick's Fathers Club from 1972-1980.
Buddy was the leadoff man and center fielder for the Singers and Hibernians softball teams in the Union County Industrial and Elizabeth AA Fast-Pitch Softball Leagues from 1951-1956. Jim became known as the sparkplug of the Championship and Nationally acclaimed Burry Biscuit Softball Teams of the New Jersey State League from 1954-1959. Mr. Byrnes coached the Thomas and Betts and Singer Baseball Teams in the Union County Youth Baseball League from 1965-1969. Mr. Byrnes was honored by Immaculate Conception Grammar School for his 20 years of service as Baseball and Basketball coach in the Elizabeth Parochial Grammar School Leagues. Mr. Byrnes was a member of the Holy Name Society, Trustee and one of the Founding Fathers of the then New Church at Immaculate Conception Parish.

Singer Corporation in Elizabeth employed Mr. Byrnes for 37 years where he started as a Machine Operator and retiring as Payroll Manager in 1983. Jim was also Supervisor of Billing for the City of Rahway Water Dept. from 1983 before permanently retiring in 1990.

James was predeceased by his loving wife of 48 years Kathleen (Carberry) Byrnes, his son James III, and his sister Betty Ann Lyons.
Surviving are his cherished sister Francis Higgins of Scotch Plains, his loving children Maureen Meeks of Paris, Ky., daughter-in-law Marian of Ormond Beach, Fl. Thomas and his fiancée Lisa Svercauski of Bayonne, William and his wife Jean of Allentown, Patrick and his wife Karen of Union, Jacqueline Moran and her husband Kevin of Brick, John and his wife Sally of Mt. Pleasant, SC., Michelle Maliniak and her husband Edward of Brick, and Allison Lestarchick and her husband John of Scotch Plains. 14 adored grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren also survive him. Also, survived by 7 nieces and nephews and their families.