OSWEGO, NY – James Edward McGann, 76, a resident of East First Street in Oswego, passed away Sunday July 17, 2016, at St. Luke Health Services.
James was born in Oswego, the son of the late Edward A. and Mary E. (Foot) McGann.
He graduated from St. Paul’s Academy and Oswego Catholic High School.
He attended college at St. Michael’s and at the University of Toronto, Canada.
In 2003, he retired after 40 years in retail management with Montgomery Ward, Kline’s Department Store in Oswego, Addis & Dey’s, and Barnes & Noble.
In recent years, he was a member of RSVP, and volunteered at the Human Concern Center and the Oswego Public Library.
He was an avid reader who was interested in all forms of performing arts.
For many years, he was a member, and former president, of the Oswego Players and appeared in dozens of productions.
He was also a supernumerary in many Syracuse Opera Co. productions.
He was a former member of the Oswego Festival Chorus and the Oswego Opera Chorus.
For two decades, he was a member of the St. Paul’s Choir in Oswego.
He was a serious, cutthroat player of Scrabble, and a voracious solver of thousands of daily crossword puzzles (in pen only!).
He was predeceased by his sisters, Mary Teresa Dauphinais and Patricia Ann Lunette; his brother, Richard G. McGann; and his brothers-in-law, Nicholas Lunette and James Dauphinais.
He is survived by his sister-in-law, Agnes McGann; and nine nieces and nephews, Lisa Strait, Christine Von Holtz, Michelle Shambo, Jeff McGann, Janine Krocke, Kathy Stieger, Clyde Laudermilk, Lee Edwards and Bruce Laudermilk; and many great-nieces and great-nephews.
A memorial mass will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, in St. Paul’s Church, Oswego.
Burial will be private.
There will be no calling hours.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Human Concern Center or to the Oswego Public Library.
Arrangements are in care of the Dain-Cullinan Funeral Home, Oswego.
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Rest in peace, Jim, under the proscenium arch, taking one last bow for a lifetime of wonderful performances! You left hundreds with wonderful memories of your shows, and all those Oswego Players who knew you as a quiet and gracious man. God bless…as we know he will!