James Arthur McMann's Obituary
In Loving Memory of James Arthur McMann
April 15, 1943, to April 22, 2026
James (Jim) A. McMann of Ewa Beach, HI peacefully departed this life on April 22, 2026, surrounded by his beloved wife of sixty years, Jean, family, and close friends.
Jim was born on April 15, 1943, to the late Arthur E. and Evelyn Benson McMann. When he was born, his father was missing in action in North Africa while serving in the U.S. Army in WWII. Arthur was found shortly after and continued fighting in Europe. Jim was two years old when he first met his father. He was immensely proud of his father's service record.
Jim grew up in Walden, NY, and graduated from Valley Central High School in 1961. He received his B.S. and M.S. from SUNY New Paltz in 1965 and 1967, respectively. Jim loved telling the story of how he met Jean Ostrom in the college library in 1961 and what her first words to him were. She asked him to "Please be quiet," as she was studying. Shortly after, they went on their first date. They married on June 26, 1965, twelve days after Jim's graduation.
Jim taught social studies in Wallkill, NY, from 1965-67, and in the Sachem Central School District on Long Island from 1967-98. During those years at Sachem, he served as Department Chairperson, Union Representative, coach for boys' track and field, and officiated high school basketball and soccer.
Jim's greatest joy in life was his family, wife, children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. He loved being Grandpa Jim. He also enjoyed photography, running, bicycling, reading, theater, genealogy and traveling. He and Jean visited forty-nine states and forty-nine countries.
Jim was a thirty-four-year resident of Blue Point, Long Island, NY, and was highly active as a volunteer for Boy Scout Troop 49. He served in various offices on the committee and for many years as Scout Master. Because of his extensive volunteer work, he received the Man of the Year award in 1979 from the Blue Point Lions Club. That same year, he also ran and completed the New York City and Long Island marathons.
After retiring, he and Jean moved to Anderson, SC, in 2002 to be near their grandchildren. While there he enjoyed attending his grandchildren's activities, as well as sporting and other events at nearby Clemson University, his sons' alma mater. When their youngest grandson was born in 2013 in Hawaii, Jim and Jean bought a condominium nearby and split their time between Anderson, SC, and Ewa Beach, HI. In 2019, they moved permanently to HI to help with their younger grandchildren.
Jim his survived by his wife Jean, sons David (Buffy), Michael (Leah), daughter Laura (Regan), grandchildren Katie Laney (Jordan), Bryson McMann (Logan), Ryan, Riley and Noah McMann, and great grandsons Grayson, Wells and Wilson Laney, niece Macy Ostrom, as well as other family and dear friends. Jim was preceded in death by his brother Thomas and cousins, Melvin and Barbara Bedford.
On Friday, July 3, 2026, there will be visitation from 9:30 and a Celebration of Life at 10 a.m. at Christ Lutheran Church, 95-1361 Meheula Parkway, Mililani, HI 96789. The service will be officiated by Reverend Keith Wolter. Interment will be on Monday, July 6th at 10:30 a.m. at Mililani Memorial Park in the Niche Garden.
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