James F. Noonan of East Quogue died on March 16. He was 71.
Born September 3, 1942, Mr. Noonan received the “gift of life,” a double lung transplant, in July 2008. He was restored to good health but in recent years developed cancer and underwent several chemotherapy treatments. He fought a long battle with the disease before his death.
Survivors said he was a proud American and true hero, spending more than four years in the U.S. Navy and then joining the New York City Fire Department, attaining the rank of captain. Highly decorated with numerous awards for bravery, he retired in 2000 with 34 years of service. After retirement, he aided in the post 9-11 recovery effort.
Famous for his Irish wit and sense of humor, Mr. Noonan had a positive effect on all those he came in contact with, survivors said. He was completely devoted to his family and friends and was also a fan of anything Irish, the Yankees and the beaches of the Hamptons.
Mr. Noonan is survived by his wife of 45 years, Maryann; and his four children, Kathleen, Kerry and husband Stephen, James and wife Mary, and Maureen and husband Robert; a brother, John and wife Helen; and five grandchildren, Peter, Maxwell, Ella, Claire and Kristen. He was predeceased by his parents, Margaret and James, and three siblings, Margaret, Thomas and Bernard.
Visitation will be at the R.J. O’Shea Funeral Home in Hampton Bays on Saturday, March 22, from 5 to 8 p.m. and Sunday, March 23, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. A funeral Mass will be said on Monday, March 24, at 10:30 a.m. at the Church of St. Rosalie in Hampton Bays.
Memorial donations may be made to the Lung Transplant Program at Columbia University, www.thelungtransplantprogram.org; or the New York Firefighters Burn Center Foundation, www.nyffburncenter.com.
on Mar 19, 2014