James Warren McKittrick
James “Jim” Warren McKittrick passed away peacefully at Massachusetts General Hospital. during the early evening of October 19. Jim was 74 years old.
Jim led a great life. He was kind, funny, generous, and took terrific care of those whom he loved.
Jim was born in Boston on February 16, 1950, the second of the five children of Alice (Warren) and Leo McKittrick. Jim attended South Boston schools before joining the Marines where he served in Vietnam with the renown VMM-364 Purple Foxes.
Jim later attended Nathaniel Hawthorne College in Antrim New Hampshire before starting his career as a business owner in Dorchester and then as a Firefighter for the City of Boston. He was first assigned to Engine 9 and finished with Engine 21. Jim loved his work with the Fire Department, retiring in 2013 after a career of nearly 20 years.
Jim’s faith was of paramount importance to him. He was a daily Communicant and relied heavily on his faith in God and the Church. Without a doubt, it was Jim’s faith that sustained him during the most difficult of times. We are comforted that Jim is now with his Blessed Mother and Lord and Savior.
Jim exhibited this same kind of devotion to his family and friends. He was the best big brother - a great listener both literally and figuratively - who both heard you and believed in you. There was no problem you couldn’t solve together. Jim believed in showing respect to everyone he encountered and would do anything he could to support your journey.
Jim was adventurous! He skied; he traveled; he loved to ride in helicopters and go deep sea diving in the Florida Keys - one time catching a sailfish with his friends; and anything else that allowed him this kind of freedom. During Jim’s youth, he - like many of his friends - was a lifeguard at Pleasure Bay on Farragut Road.
And, of course, there was Jim’s incredibly positive attitude and wit. It was a pleasure to be in Jim’s presence. He faced the world with a smile on his face and a song in his voice. You couldn’t leave a conversation without Jim making you laugh at least once if not ten times. When you asked Jim how he was - regardless of what was going on in his life - he would say, “Everything is peaches and cream” or “Every day is a holiday…, and “Every meal is a banquet.”
Jim enjoyed being both an uncle and great uncle. With his nephew, George “Slaine” Carroll he acted in the movie The Town playing the memorable role of the “cop who looked away.” Jim was very proud that he and George had this shared experience.
Jim is predeceased by his parents, his brother Leo, and his long-time companion Debbie Fuller. He leaves his three loving sisters, Maryalice, Janice, and Margaret; and his nephews, John Michael, Kyle, Keith, and Matthew, and niece, Kristen. He was the proud great uncle of Christopher, Cassie, Rhys, Bennett, and Chase. Jim leaves many cousins, including notably Margaret Admirand, whose love and support these last many months was both immeasurable and invaluable.
There will be a wake for Jim from 4:00-8:00 on Thursday, October 24, at Casper’s Funeral Home at 187 Dorchester Street in South Boston: https://www.casperfuneralservices.com. Jim’s Funeral Mass will take place at 10:00 Friday, October 25, at St. Brigid’s of Kildare, 841 East Broadway South Boston, followed by his burial at Cedar Grove Cemetery, 920 Adams Street, Dorchester Center.
On behalf of Jim and our family, we want to express our gratitude to our friend Sandee Hurley for her wisdom and advocacy; Father Joseph Boafo for his many prayers, visits and blessings, and Jim’s teams at Mass General and the VNA for care that always assured Jim was at its center. We also want to say thank you from the bottoms of our hearts to those who have shown us incredible love and support during this difficult time.