James S. McLaughlin Sr.

MCLAUGHLINOn September 12, 2019, James Stephen McLaughlin, Sr. loving husband and father, passed away at the age of 78. Jim was born on March 27, 1941 in Philadelphia, PA. He was the youngest of 7 children born to Doctor Edward McLaughlin and his wife Margaret. Jim was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Louise, and his brothers Edward and William. He is survived by his wife, Michele, and his two children Michele (husband: Todd, children: Zoe, Nina, and Maya) and Jim, Jr (wife: Karen, children: Charles and Madeline); his sisters Mary, Frances, and Margaret, and many nieces and nephews.Most of Jim’s career was spent doing commercial insurance sales, but the job he loved the most was being a lifeguard in Longport, NJ. He joined the beach patrol as a mascot at the age of 12 and was active with the beach patrol as an alumni and lifeguard race official the whole rest of his life. During the summer of 1959, a beautiful young woman named Michele Ciardi caught Jim’s eye on the beach in Longport. Jim and Michele were married on September 30, 1967 and enjoyed 52 years together raising their children Michele and Jim, Jr., riding their bikes to the end of the island in Longport, NJ, having crab feasts and laughing with their friends, and enjoying their five grandchildren.Jim was the life of the party everywhere he went. Even in the grips of severe dementia, Jim greeted everyone with a huge, genuine smile. He connected with people and made everyone feel important. His bright light will be intensely missed by so many. Fly high, Big Jimmy Mac. Relatives and friends are invited to his Visitation on Wednesday, September 25th,from 10:00 AM to 10:45 AM, with Funeral Mass to follow 11:00 AM, ALL IN CHURCH at SS. Simon and Jude Church, 8 Cavanaugh Ct., West Chester, PA 19382. Interment will be private at a later date.In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Jim’s name to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, https://www.chop.edu/.