James V. Merrigan Jr.

Where to begin....How many hours did we spend at Merrigan's from
the St. Patty's day parties in the "old" bar to watching the new
one being built and the nights
after the "OTR" baseball games,
we always new where everyone
would wind up. Eddie and I had
alot of fun at Merrigan'. Eddie and Jay are probably having a beer
together and going over old times.
My sincere sympathy to the whole
Merrigan clan. I know what your
going through and it isn't...

I can only add to what my sister Shannon wrote about our father, Jay - she described him so perfectly. Jay provided me and my sisters with many wonderful experiences and memories as children, but I don't think I began to truly appreciate him and his many gifts until I became an adult. I cherished him more and more as each year passed. I have learned so much from him, including the importance of forgiveness and the value of enjoying life and having fun. I am grateful to him for so many...

Shannon seem to have said it all, she beat me to it! You have given me the strength to get me through this. Jay had more friends than all of us put together and you were always there for him as much as he was there for some of you. There will be a big void in our lives , but he left us with our wonderful memories. I have my job cut out for me now - trying to settle Jay Merrigan's life. I may need some of your help but after the last few weeks, I know you will all be there. He lives on...

Thank you to all of my father's friends. You were such an important part of his life. I wish I could have met more of you.
I have so much respect for my father...for Jay. He was a man who knew himself and knew what he wanted. He lived the way he chose, and he let others do the same. I admire him for the above, and aspire to live by such principles. Other admirable qualities about my Dad....a great sense of humor, deeply caring, a thinker, intelligent, fair, thoughtful...and...

My condolences to the Merrigan Family.I will truly miss listening to you and my Father's stories (Hawkeye) for hours on end at the future Belmonts. Listening to you and my Father talk about "old times" while eating good and drinking even better was always the highlight of a great weekend for the past six or seven years.You'll be missed!

My deepest sympathy to the Merrigan Family and all who knew Jay. He was one of a kind! He always made me laugh with one of his crazy stories about the old days, the funny thing was, the story was true. He had me in stiches. You will be missed, Jay! God Bless!

REST IN PEACE

BILL

OK GUYS, I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE TO BEGIN. ALOT OF YEARS ALOT OF MEMORIES. lAKE HOPATCONG, JERSEY SHORE, FLORIDA AND BAHAMAS."I WANT KUMQUATES" OR FREE BEER TOM. OR FREE SEX YESTERDAY" I HAD THE JOY OF BEING WITH JAY IN JUNE TAKING HIM OVER BY BOAT TO THE BAHAMAS. "QUITE THE EXPERIENCE" AS WELL AS PICKING UP LOBSTERS IN DOWNTOWN NEWARK IN HIS VINTAGE LINCONE AT 7:00AM (IMAGINE THAT RIDE, MORE SO ON THE WAY HOME, AT 2:00PM) LOL
IF ANYONE REMEMBERS THE LOBSTER RACES ON THE HANGING FLAG AT...

I'm sending to you my deepest heartfelt sorrow.
However, that is not what Jay would have wanted. He would want everyone to party and have a drink or 2 (gallons) while telling funny stories about him. Throughout the many years we spent together I knew the soft side he tried so hard to hide...He enjoyed reading a good book, watching a movie, pictionary, his farm, learning new things, Hockey & Football, quite time, etc. etc.. loved to party, but more then all of that he
'Loved his...