James R. Mcdermott

BRISTOL, RI - James R. McDermott, 76, of Bristol, RI and Bradenton, FL, died surrounded by his loving family and friends, at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston on Monday, September 29, 2008. Born in Concord, NH in 1931, to Bridget Dunleavy and Michael McDermott, he was youngest of five children.He graduated from St. Marys Seminary in Techny, Illinois and was ordained a priest in the Society of the Divine Word in 1960. He was missioned to the people of Mt Hagen in the New Guinea Highlands for 5 years. He received his masters degree from Catholic University and CAGS from Boston College where he studied for his doctorate. He was employed as a guidance counselor at Mt. Hope High School, Bristol, for 29 years where he was well-known for his counseling on the hoof style, which incorporated many innovative ways of reaching out to the student body. He loved to write and is remembered by many for the Scribbles newsletters he produced over the years. He also enjoyed writing poetry commemorating events in his familys life. Among his hobbies, were studying German and Latin, woodworking, and baking Irish bread. He loved travelling, especially to Ireland and Florida. Survivors include his wife, Eileen McCusker, and his children Daniel of Little Compton, Cara Fasy and her husband James of Fall River, MA, and Maura Hempstead and her husband Scott of West Barnstable, MA, his grandchildren, Aislin, Graham and Liam Hempstead and James and Daniel Fasy, his sister-in-law Virginia McDermott of Concord, NH, his brother Peter Higgins of Exeter, NH, his sister Sally Santos of Falmouth, MA and his brother-in-law James Farrington of Newport, as well as several nieces, nephews and cousins here and in Ireland.He was the brother of the late Dr. Edward McDermott, John McDermott, Marion Neil and Frances Bradford.His memorial service will be held on Saturday, October 4, 2008, at 12:00 pm in St. Marys Church, 330 Wood Street, Bristol. Jims ashes will be taken to Ireland for final rest. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Miramar Alumni Association, c/o Jim Callanan, 211 Central Street, Unit A101, Norwood, MA 02062. These gifts will help provide new wells, education opportunities and basic health care for the people served by Jims confreres in Africa and New Guinea. Ar dheis De go raibh a anam. May he rest in peace.