James H. Tierney (MSgt/USAF, retired), 74, of Brick, NJ
25 June 1942 – 12 April 2017.
Died from Alzheimer’s disease and gained his wings 12 April 2017. He was welcomed home by those who predeceased him: his father and mother (Thomas A. Tierney and Eleanor G. McIntee), eight siblings and his beloved min-pin Miss Scarlett.
Born in Jersey City, he went to serve his country and wore the Air Force uniform for 55 years (22 on active duty at various locations around the world and 33 as an AFJROTC instructor in the Brick Township Schools).
He has touched, influenced and shaped more lives than any of us will ever know. He will be truly, deeply and sorely missed by those lives as well. He gave 100% of himself to everything he did in life from his family to any job he had throughout his life. He loved his family, WAWA coffee with a roll and butter, and his DOO WOP music (particularly, The Dupree’s).
Left to cherish the memories and forever feel the void his passing has created are: his partner in life for 41 years (37 years and 9 months of those in marriage) Joan Rhodes Tierney (his Joan-o), four children and one step-child (James H. Tierney, Jr. (his Jimmy) and his wife Lisa, Shawn J. Tierney (his Shawnsy) and his wife Jessica, Jennette Tierney Tittelfitz (his Nette-Girl) and her husband Peter, Justin I. Tierney (his boy El-Roy) and his wife Michelle, and Waverly F. Phelps, III (his Wave) and his fiancée Samantha, eleven grandchildren, three siblings (David Tierney, Jean Tierney Riccio, and Raymond Tierney) and numerous other relatives.
Time and space limit listing all this man has accomplished throughout his life and those who mourn his passing can still hear him saying one (or all) of the following:
“Sew – buttons on your face” “And I said to myself, self…” “Frig’it (frigate): a little ship with guns” and “Do you need anything”
Visiting will be on Tuesday from 2-4 and 7-9pm at the O’Brien Funeral Home, 505 Burnt Tavern Road, Brick. A prayer service will be held 10:30am on Wednesday in the funeral home. Entombment will follow at Ocean County Memorial Park, Toms River. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in his name to either, The Popcorn Park Zoo, Homeless Veterans, or Alzheimer’s of New Jersey.