James Francis Anthony McAuliffe

 Jim McAuliffe, 87, of Charlotte, North Carolina passed away on October 3, 2024 at Novant Huntersville Medical Center in the arms of his daughter. Jim was born in Washington, D.C. as half of the third largest set of twins born in the United States in 1937. His parents, John (Jack) McAuliffe and Honor(a) Keady were Irish immigrants who raised four children, of whom Jim was the youngest. Jim’s family moved to Port Washington in Long Island, New York when he was 10 and he graduated from Paul D. Schreiber High School in 1955. Jim started at the University of Vermont that fall, majoring in economics and serving as president of his fraternity. He finished his degree at Adelphi University on Long Island in 1990. After earning his degree, he earned his certification as a substance abuse counselor and began working in the field on nights and weekends.

Jim worked in a wide variety of industries over the course of his long career, including in the brewery business at Ballantyne Ale, among others. He married Nancy Flood in 1968 and had daughter Laura in 1970. He opened his own business, the Beer Barn, a beer distributorship and deli in Bayport, New York in 1976, the same year he became a friend of Bill’s. He married Barbara Gallagher in 1988. An award winning career with Thermal Industries relocated him to Charlotte in 1991, and he continued his part-time counseling work first at Charter Pines and then at University Psychiatric Associates. After retiring from Thermal, he became a property manager for Century 21 at the University, working into his early 80s. 

 Jim was proud of three things in his life. First was his family, including his first wife, Nancy, who went on to become his best friend; his second wife, Barbara; his daughter Laura; his son-in-law Bill; and grandson, Carter; all of whom he loved very dearly. Jim volunteered for many years at Cannon School in Concord, where Carter attended and Laura teaches, to speak annually to the entire freshman class about how addiction is a disease and not a character flaw.

Second was his own sobriety and his work in addiction, which was his life’s work and true calling, if never his full-time career. For many years, he was the annual Easter Sunday speaker at the Long Creek Group at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Charlotte. He was only two years short of 50 years of sobriety.

Third was the fact that he ran over 50 marathons, including 20 Marine Corps marathons. He was active in running throughout his adult life, and was a well known figure at the YMCA in Charlotte, always recognized at races by his ‘run, Jim, run!’ shirt. He ran Warrior Dashes and 10Ks into his late 70s. 

Jim had a gracious, generous, loving and kind heart. He touched countless lives for the better. He kept his fabulous Irish wit and humor until the very end and will be missed beyond measure.

Jim was predeceased by his parents, siblings Timothy McAuliffe and Ann Occipinti, niece Mary Ann Antoon and first wife, Nancy. He is survived by his wife Barbara and sister-in-law Judy DiStefano, twin brother John McAuliffe of NY, daughter Laura Huffman (Bill) and grandson Carter Huffman of Huntersville, two stepsons and many beloved nieces and nephews. The family wishes to express their gratitude to Danny Craig, who helped care for Jim as well as Novant Hospice, who provided tremendous support. 

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Jim’s name to the Humane Society of Charlotte, a cause close to his heart. https://humanesocietyofcharlotte.org/give/in-honormemory-of/