James F. Hourican

James (Jim) F. Hourican, 81, passed away unexpectedly on February 9, 2025 surrounded by loved ones. Jim was predeceased by his beloved wife of 49 years, Joan Hourican, his father, Michael Hourican, his mother Anne Hourican (nee Beirne), brothers John, Michael and Thomas and sister Catherine. Jim is survived by his son, James O. Hourican, daughter-in-law, Lauren Hourican and grandchildren, Max and Lilly, and many in-laws, nieces, nephews and friends whom he considered his family.

A native New Yorker, Jim was born on June 14, 1943 in Queens, NY, the youngest of 5 siblings. It was in this neighborhood where he met some of his best and lifelong friends, those who he felt were all that he needed for the rest of his life. He was introduced to Joan in 1972, and they were married at St. Sebastians in Woodside in September 1974. After relocating numerous times, they eventually settled in Lynbrook, NY where they had their son, James, residing there until 2010 when he and Joan moved to Saint James, NY.

Before eventually settling into his career, Jim held a number of jobs including on Wall Street at Payne Weber and a short stint in the Army. Finally, Jim began working for the phone company – first Bell Atlantic, then AT&T and finally Lucent Technologies before retiring in 1999, after 35 years of service. A union man through and through and member of the local CWA, Jim participated in a number of workers strikes aimed at bettering the benefits for himself and his fellow union members.

Jim was deeply passionate about his Irish heritage, his family and friends and of course his favorite sports teams: the New York Giants, New York Rangers and New York Yankees. It was always easy to tell how each team was faring depending on the volume of his cheering. As he got older, he would often tell stories of terrible Giants games he attended with his brother Tom, and the elation he felt when the Rangers finally won the Stanley Cup on his birthday in 1994.

Jim was a fiercely proud and independent man, but still had a soft and supportive side that only those close to him ever really got to see. He was supportive of his sons endeavors and immensely proud when he graduated from college and law school. However, this paled in comparison to the love he felt for his grandchildren, and the love they felt for him. They could do no wrong in his eyes, and he spoiled them any chance he got. But he was most devoted to his wife, Joan, and he was heartbroken at her passing in December 2023. While he will be deeply and sorely missed, we are comforted by knowledge that they are together again.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to one of these charities: The Alzheimer’s Association (in honor of his mother, Anne and Michael Weinstein), The ALS Association (in honor of “Big” Ed Flanagan) or The National Breast Cancer Foundation (in honor of his wife, Joan).

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