Kathleen Doughty
James Clabby
James Riling Clabby, 81, formerly of Westfield, NJ and Edgewater, MD, died peacefully at home on November 2nd in Washington Crossing, PA surrounded by his family. Jim was born in 1941 in Bridgeport, CT to James E. and Ruth K. (Riling) Clabby.
Raised in Orange, CT, Jim attended Amity Regional High School, where he excelled in football and baseball. He was voted All-State in football in 1958, the first ever lineman elected All-State from Amity. He was also the captain of the Amity baseball team, batting .450 in 1958 and .390 in 1959. Jim was inducted into the Amity High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2017. He went on to graduate from the University of Connecticut, where he was a member of ROTC and the Chi Phi fraternity.
Jim married Kathryn Mary McDermott, his high school sweetheart, in 1963, prior to being shipped off to Fort Benning for U.S. Army basic training and jump school. From Fort Benning, Jim and Kathy moved to Fort Polk, LA, where Jim was stationed and served as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Army (Airborne) until 1966. Following discharge from the U.S. Army, Jim entered the Loop Course sales training program at Bethlehem Steel and moved to Bethlehem, PA. From there Jim was assigned to Bethlehem Steel’s Boston office, moving the family first to Randolph, MA and then to Norwell, MA.
In 1972, Jim moved the family to Westfield, NJ and began a 20 year career with Metal Litho Corp., where he was the Vice President of Sales. While with Metal Litho Jim traveled extensively, and there were not many parts of the country where he did not have a client and friend. Jim was an avid golfer and was a long-time member of Canoe Brook Country Club in Summit, NJ. He often spoke about how lucky he was to have played some of the best golf courses in the world. He enjoyed many days on the links, including golf trips to Ireland with his friends. He was also a lifetime member of Ballybunion Golf Club (County Kerry, Ireland).
Jim and his family were long-time, active members of Holy Trinity Parish in Westfield, NJ. Following the death of his beloved son, Kevin, in 1984 at age 15, Jim, Kathy, and their family became active volunteers with The Valerie Fund, advocating and raising funds to fight pediatric cancer.
In 1994 Jim and Kathy moved from Westfield, NJ to Edgewater, MD when Jim became the VP of Sales for Titan Steel. While in Edgewater, Jim enjoyed boating around Annapolis and the Chesapeake Bay and all things U.S. Naval Academy. Jim and Kathy were ardent and proud supporters of the USNA, holding season tickets for Navy Football, attending countless Navy athletics games, and sponsoring USNA Midshipmen.
Upon retirement in 2005, Jim and Kathy moved closer to their family and settled in Bucks County, PA. A history buff, Jim was rarely seen without a history novel in his hands. In 2010 Jim wrote and published a book called The Indiana Wasp: The Jimmy Clabby Story, about his first cousin once removed who was a world champion boxer, holding the Welterweight Championship of the World in 1910. In his retirement Jim enjoyed traveling, lots of golf with his friends, spending time with his family, compiling extensive family genealogical records, and feeding the dogs under the table. He loved talking about sports, history, the steel business, and all the golf courses he played. Jim had an amazing ability to remember the holes and layout of nearly every golf course he played. He may not have recalled each score he shot, but he would fondly remember the partners he played with during his countless rounds.
Jim was a very proud, supportive husband, father, and grandfather. His seven grandchildren were his pride and joy. There was nothing “Pa” loved more than being around his grandchildren and attending their sporting events through youth, high school, and college levels. His presence will be greatly missed, but his life will be very fondly and lovingly remembered.
Jim was predeceased by his parents, James and Ruth Clabby, and his beloved son, Kevin Michael Clabby. He is survived by his caring spouse of 59 years Kathryn (McDermott) Clabby of Washington Crossing, PA, his daughter Kelly Kessler and her husband John of Westfield, NJ, his son James M. and his wife Sherley of Wall, NJ, his daughter Kathleen and her fiancé Laura Stangoni of Broomfield, CO, grandchildren Kevin Kessler (Golden, CO), Jack Kessler, Owen Kessler, and William Kessler (all of Westfield, NJ), Erin Clabby (John’s Island, SC), James B. Clabby and Kathryn M. Clabby (both of Wall, NJ). Jim is also survived by his sister, Janice Eggert of Asheville, NC, and many nieces, nephews, and in-laws of the McDermott family in CT and beyond.
A graveside service will be held at Fairview Cemetery in Westfield, NJ at a later date followed by an Irish celebration of life. The family will notify loved ones in the future when the services are scheduled. For now, all are invited to raise a “Dewars on the rocks with a twist” in honor of Jim.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift to either The Culley Strong Foundation (P.O. Box 580, Manasquan, NJ 08736; www.theculleystrongfoundation.com) or Constellation Hospice (10125 Verree Road, Ste. 202, Philadelphia, PA 19116). Condolences may be left on this website.
Arrangements by Donahue Funeral Home, 215-348-9421.
