James J. Molloy Jr.

James Joseph Molloy Jr, 93, of Jensen Beach, FL and West Haven, CT passed away peacefully on July 29, 2022 at the West Haven Veteran Administration Medical Center with family by his side.  Jim was born in New Haven, CT on July 7, 1929, to James J. Molloy and Ruth Scott Molloy. Survived by this loving wife of 67 years, Marilyn Hotchkiss Molloy; children James J Molloy III (Lauren), Douglas Molloy, David (Debby) Molloy, Mary (John) Kelly; granddaughters Colleen (Joshua) Jordan, Erin (Michael) Upham, Shauna Kelly, Tessa Molloy; great-grandchildren Joshua Jordan, Grace Upham, Thomas Upham, Aiden Jordan; sister Ruth Granfield, brother-in-law Rick Richau, sister-in-law Diane Hotchkiss and sixteen nieces and nephews. Jim was predeceased by his parents and siblings Helen (Felix) Kuczynski, Thomas (Lorraine) Molloy, Patricia Richau and brother-in-law George Hotchkiss Jr and nephew Paul Hotchkiss.

Jim attended Hillhouse High School and served in the US Navy from 1948 – 1952 as EN2 aboard the USS Coral Sea.  Soon after his service he went to work for Joseph G Michel & Sons as a master plumber until his retirement in 1990 when a fall ended his working career. Jim was a very hard worker; he built their West Haven home, working on it every night after worked for over a year to completion.  He was a master at everything he did; reading, researching, plain old trial & error and common sense to get it done.  He could fix anything and everything. He was an excellent dancer, gliding across the ballroom floor and was an Arthur Murray dance instructor back in his early years.  Jim & Marilyn also enjoyed square dancing for many years, traveling to conventions across the country. Dad had a great love of cars and working on them too!  He installed a pulley system in the garage so he could lift engines out to work on them.  He had over 20 cars including two convertibles, one which he took Marilyn out on their first date. Dad enjoyed being a part of his children’s activities; early morning drives to the hockey rink, Father Manager in WH Youth Hockey, and Ray Tellier Midget Football.  He loved boating, fishing, camping and sailing.  In his retirement years he took up woodcarving and mastered that as well.

Retirement years were spent on Nettles Island in Jensen Beach, FL with summers back home in West Haven. He was very active in the Nettles Island community in Wood Carvers Club, Men’s Club, Fishing Club, Theatre Guild and also sang in the Men’s Choir. The family would like to extend their sincere thanks and appreciation to the staff at the West Haven Veterans Hospital for the excellent and compassionate care for our Dad.

 Visitation will take place on Wednesday August 3, 2022 from 9 to 10:30 at the West Haven Funeral Home.  At 11 o'clock, A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in Our Lady of Victory Church, 300 Captain Thomas Blvd. West Haven.  Military honors will be rendered at the church, following the funeral mass.  There will be no burial at this time. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Veteran Angler Charters, a foundation founded and run by his niece Kathy Granfield, which provides no-cost fishing trips to disabled veterans of all branches of the armed services.  Veteran Angler Charters, PO Box 504, West Haven, CT  06516  www.veterananglercharters.org

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