James B. Toohey, 81, of New Bedford passed away peacefully at home on Saturday August 31, 2019. He was the husband of Gail A. (Hitt) Bates-Toohey.
Born in Providence, RI, the son of the late Thomas J. and Anna (Gannon) Toohey, he lived in New Bedford since 1965. He was a graduate of LaSalle Academy and Providence College.
Mr. Toohey was formerly employed as a regional manager for Crawford and Company until his retirement. After his retirement, he worked for 10 years as a steward in the officer's mess aboard the training ships of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy during their winter sea term, sailing to numerous ports in the Caribbean and the Mediterranean.
Jim was a member of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks Lodge 73, New Bedford-Wareham. He had also been a director of the New Bedford Harbor Development Commission and the Boys and Girls Club of New Bedford. He served in the U.S. Army from 1961-1963.
He is survived by his wife Gail; his children, Karen and David Toohey of Florida; his stepchildren, Cindy Toli and her husband Stephen, and David Bates and his wife Anne-Marie, all of Taunton, and Kurt Bates and his wife Lisa of Rochester; his siblings, Evelyn Toohey of Cranston, RI and Martin Toohey and his wife Helen of Foster, RI; his sisters-in-law, Elaine Toohey of Coventry, RI and Donna Brennan of Hope Valley, RI; six grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
He was the brother of the late Thomas J. Toohey, Jr., Nancy Kiernan, and Helen Toohey.
His Funeral will be held on Friday Sept. 6th at 9 AM from the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford, followed by his Funeral Mass at Holy Name of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church at 10 AM. Burial will be in Pine Grove Cemetery. Visiting hours will be on Thursday Sept. 5th from 4-8 PM. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Boys and Girls Club of New Bedford, 166 Jenney St., New Bedford, MA 02740. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.