James Joseph Sheridan

James Joseph Sheridan (“Jim”), devoted and loving husband of Kathleen (nee Carty) and beloved father of Ann and Claire, passed away on September 29, 2023 following a life lived to the fullest.

Jim, the eldest of six children, was born to Michael Sheridan and Mary (nee Walsh) in County Mayo, Ireland on April 13, 1938.  He immigrated to New York City in October 1957 at the age of 19 and spent his first few years living with his maternal uncle, William Walsh, William’s wife, Mae, and their five children in Flushing, Queens.

Jim’s first employment was in the grocery business with his Uncle Bill.  He then enlisted in the United States Army and served from 1960 through 1966.  Following his honorable discharge from the Army, Jim joined the NYPD where he served until 1974.  He left the NYPD to become a bartender, and in 1980, through a combination of fortuitous circumstances and Jim’s entrepreneurial spirit, Jim, with business partner Tom Geraghty, opened Branigan’s Bar and Restaurant in NYC’s financial district.  1980 was a great year to open a bar business in the financial district, which previously had been a bit of a ghost town after hours.  Jim, with the assistance of his wife, Kathleen, his partner, Tom, and countless skilled staff, built an establishment that became a favorite haunt of many stockbrokers and the like through the late 1990s.  Part of Branigan’s success definitely was tied to Jim’s charm.  He had the gift of the gab and loved to talk and connect with people.

Jim was a lover of his birth country, and he and his wife brought their daughters to visit Ireland many times over the years.  He loved connecting with family, roaming and working the family farm, attending horse shows, exploring beautiful sites in West Ireland, and socializing in local village pubs.

Jim was a devotee of his adopted country and planned many family vacations around visiting different states and historical sites, often quizzing his daughters about what they had learned along the way. He loved books and reading and cared deeply about education.  He imparted his love of reading to his daughters and saw them both through college and one through law school.

Jim was also fun-loving and not beyond making mischief by playing raucously with his daughters and nieces and nephews to the occasional chagrin of the other adults. Years later, he maintained his sense of play with his granddaughters, Rachel and Julia.

Jim loved physical fitness.  While in his 30s, he would play handball, paddleball, and racquetball.  As he approached his 40th birthday, he took up running and even finished the New Jersey Shore Marathon in very good time.  Jim loved to challenge his nephews and nieces to push-up and sit-up contests, and enjoyed quizzing people about their fitness protocols.  Until the COVID-19 pandemic, he was a regular at Planet Fitness in Yonkers and enjoyed correcting his fellow gym mates’ form.

A few weeks ago, Jim was lucky enough to celebrate 60 years of marriage to Kathleen, the love of his life, equal partner, and best friend.  Although Jim faced significant medical challenges for most of this year, he fought valiantly so he could take care of Kathleen to the best of his ability.  And to the end, he provided the emotional support and companionship that she needed.

Jim is survived by his wife Kathleen, daughters Ann and Claire, sons-in-law James Dickerman and Robert Romano, granddaughters Rachel and Julia Dickerman, sister Gertie Kilcommons, brother Anthony, many nieces and nephews, and many good friends and extended family.

The Sheridan family is extremely grateful for the compassionate, respectful, and loving care provided to Jim by Advent Assisted Living (Aggie, Yvonne, Stella, and Judith) and Gilchrist Hospice Services staff in his last months of life.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in St. Mark Chapel, 30 Melvin Avenue, Catonsville, MD (21228) on Saturday, October 7th at 10:30 AM. Inurnment private. Visitation will be held at the family-owned Candle Light Funeral Home, 1835 Frederick Road, Catonsville, MD (21228) on Friday October 6th from 2 PM until 5 PM.

Donations in his memory be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave. Floor 17 Chicago, IL (60601.)

www.candlelightfuneralhome.com