James Joseph "Jim" McClay

1944 - 2021

James Joseph (Jim) McClay, 76, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on January 15, 2021. Jim was born on March 2, 1944 in Chester to his parents Agnes H. and James Edward McClay. After graduating from Chester High School, Jim joined the Navy and was stationed in Norfolk, Virginia. He served as an instrumentman on the USS Orion from 1962 to 1966, and these were some of his fondest memories. After completing his time in the Navy, Jim attended Temple University and graduated with an accounting degree, after which he worked as an auditor for the Internal Revenue Service for 36 years. After his retirement from the IRS, Jim taught business and tax classes at Pennsylvania Institute of Technology. Jim married his wife Marianne in 1984, and the couple would have been married for 37 years in May. Jim was a devoted husband and a loving and involved father, coaching both daughters' Little League teams. He volunteered his expertise as treasurer for the swim team boosters association for both Nassau Swim Club and the Ridley High School swim team. He also encouraged volunteerism in his daughters, taking them to Marple Newtown High School to give swim lessons to children through the Special Olympics program. Jim loved reading, doing crossword puzzles, boating on the Delaware and the Chesapeake, dining out and a good Manhattan, watching thunderstorms, and going to the river. Jim is survived by his wife, Marianne, his two daughters, Shannon and Tori, his in-laws, nieces and nephews, and a host of long-time friends. His sense of humor, quick wit, and sharp intellect will be greatly missed. Due to the pandemic, the family plans to hold services at a later date. In lieu of flowers, Jim requested that any memorial tributes be made in the form of charitable donations to Wounded Warrior Project.