James Tobin

James Joseph Tobin, of Eltingville, a retired NYPD Detective and devoted husband, father and grandfather, died April 8 at the Addeo Hospice Residence at Eger. He was 88 years old. He was born February 21, 1932 in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of Manhattan, the youngest of four boys. He attended St. Veronica�s Parish grammar school, finishing there in 1945. He then moved on to Cardinal Hayes High School in the Bronx, graduating in 1949. (One of his classmates was Regis Philbin.) A lover of all sports, particularly baseball & the New York Yankees, he organized, played for and managed the Manhattan Arrows, a sandlot team that competed in YMCA leagues, during his youth. He served his country in the U.S. Army, stationed in Frankfurt, Germany from 1952-1954. While in the Army, he was a member of the 4th Division Special Troops Team that won the GI Baseball World Series in 1953. He played third base. The catcher on that team was the future major league player, coach and manager Norm Sherry. Jim and Norm remained friends for life. After the Army, he joined the New York Police Department and was assigned to the Ninth Precinct, located in the East Village section of Manhattan. He was married to Anna Marie Racioppi on June 19, 1954 at Our Lady of Pompeii R.C. Church. They lived in Manhattan until 1959, when they left the Village for the Eltingville section of Staten Island, where they raised their four children. They remained in Eltingville in the same house for the rest of their lives. In 1964 James moved to the NYPD�s Data Processing Division, developing computer programs related to all aspects of police work, including the 911 emergency response system. He completed his college degree in the evenings, obtaining a BS in Criminal Justice from John Jay College. Retiring from the NYPD in 1977, he moved to private industry, working first for Equitable Life and then the Securities Industry Automation Corporation (SIAC) as a systems analyst. For SIAC, he helped develop the electronic trading system for the American Stock Exchange. In 1990 he moved back to his career passion, law enforcement, joining the U.S. Marshalls Service. He was assigned to the Federal Courthouse in Newark, New Jersey. Finally retiring again in 1996 at the age of 64, but never one to sit still for long, he continued to work part-time, providing security for a Staten Island jewelry store for many more years. All throughout his life, James found time for other people, whether it was family, friends or members of the community. He was an active member of Our Lady Star of the Sea parish in Huguenot, the Great Kills Little League and Babe Ruth League where he coached youth for many years, and VFW Post 5090 Anderson-Lagno, where he was Post Adjutant. He spent countless hours with his nine grandchildren, always available to watch them, take them to a park, game or movie and for something to eat at Burger King. He faithfully attended the games in the various sports they all played. His beloved wife of 58 years, Anna Marie, died in 2012. He lost his son John much too early in 1993. James is survived by his daughter Lynn Marie Boardman and son-in-law Russell, son James and daughter-in-law Marlene, son Kevin and daughter-in-law Helen, and nine grandchildren (Russell, Timothy, Brett, Bryan, Kathleen, Courtney, Kyle, Christopher and Andrew). A memorial service to celebrate James� life will be held at a later date. The family will be establishing the James J. Tobin Memorial Scholarship at Cardinal Hayes High School. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made towards the scholarship. Donations can be sent to Kevin Tobin.

James Tobin

February 21, 1932 - April 8, 2020