James Anthony Lacey, Jr., Humanitarian, Author, and Deacon dies at 89

James A. Lacey, Jr., 89, of Lakewood, NJ, passed away peacefully on August 22, 2016 after a short battle with myelodysplasia.
Jim was an author, a deacon, a humanitarian, a father and a mentor. He spent his life giving to others. On 14 September 1994, he was awarded the Richard J. Hughes Humanitarian Award by Catholic Charities of the Trenton Diocese for his lifelong commitment to the needy of Ocean County, NJ. These services helped abused children, battered women, the homeless and hungry, the mentally ill, those suffering from addiction, AIDS/HIV, and crisis pregnancies. He served on the Catholic Charities Ocean County Advisory Board for 15 years.
In the words of Director Francis Dolan, “Jim Lacey is an outstanding leader who offers the kind of leadership that has made it possible for us to increase our capacity to serve others during this difficult time of increasing demand for human service.”
James Anthony Lacey was born on 25 June 1927 in Newark, NJ. He attended Seton Hall Preparatory School and eventually Seton Hall College where he received his Bachelor’s Degree in Business in 1945. Forty years later he returned to Seton Hall University to receive his Master’s Degree in Judeo-Christian studies in 1988.
In 1945 he enlisted in the United States Navy and served on the USS Oregon City until 1946, when he was Honorably Discharged, attaining the rank of Lieutenant Junior Grade. After his discharge, he continued his service in the Naval reserves.
In 1950, he married Jane Autumn Fitch, from East Orange, NJ. They moved to the Shore area in 1956 and settled in Point Pleasant Beach, NJ where he and his wife would raise their family of six children.
A devout Catholic, in 1977 he was one of 46 men who were ordained by Bishop George Ahr to the Diocese’s 1st Diaconate. Jim proudly served as a deacon in St. Mary’s Parish in Lakewood, NJ, Sacred Heart Parish in Bay Head, NJ, and St. Mark the Evangelist, Fort Pierce, FL.
In the 1990’s, Jim became deeply interested in genealogy and as a result of his research authored and self-published his first book, La Scrittore, a novel about his family’s history.
Jim is survived by his wife Jane, his six children and their spouses, Autumn Walsh, Brick, NJ; James, Brick, NJ; Melanie Flynn, Brielle, NJ; Marianne Sherman, Brick, NJ; Christopher, Belvedere, CA; Amy Conaty, Brick, NJ; his brother, Richard, Los Angeles, CA; eight grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be at the O’Brien Funeral Home, 505 Burnt Tavern Road, Brick, NJ on Sunday, August 28th, from 3 – 6 PM. The funeral Mass will be celebrated at Sacred Heart Church, 751 Main Avenue, Bay Head, NJ, on Monday, August 29th, at 10:30 AM. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Catholic Charities, at www.catholiccharitiestrenton.org.