Obituary of James J Cusack

James Joseph Cusack Jr., 86
James Joseph Cusack Jr, 86, passed away peacefully on May 10, 2017 at Sunrise Senior Living in Basking Ridge, NJ. He was born on September 25, 1931 in East Newark, NJ to James Joseph Cusack and Anna Friend Cusack.
Jim grew up in East Newark and Irvington NJ. He graduated from St Benedict’s Prep High School in Newark in 1949. After high school, he attended college at Seton Hall University in South Orange where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree.
Jim then joined the United States Marine Corps as an officer candidate in 1953. He served on board ship in the Mediterranean and traveled throughout the world with the Marines. He was honorably discharged as a first Lieutenant, of which he was very proud. Semper Fi.
He started as a media planner at the advertising agency BBDO in 1956 then moved to advertising sales at Progressive Farmer, Redbook, Reader’s Digest and Glamour.  Later he was founding publisher of Family Magazine. He was also the recipient of the Ad Age Media National Sales award several times over the course of his career.
Jim wed Marguerite Theresa Sullivan of the Bronx in 1956 and they were married for 61 years. Jim served his community as a deacon, a community representative to the Somerset County NJ lawyer oversight board, and the Borough of Watchung planning and zoning boards.
An avid athlete, he boxed, played basketball and tennis, skied downhill and cross country and was a long distance runner.  He also enjoyed drystone wall building, general carpentry projects, antique clock repair, furniture making and refinishing, and a wide range of reading in politics and history. 
Jim is survived by his spouse, Marguerite Theresa Cusack of Watchung NJ; their 6 children: Michael Kevin, John Terence, Ann Sheila, Kathleen Theresa, James Denis, and Marguerite Mary; and his 13 grandchildren: Kevin and Kathleen Cusack of Tucson; India, Sean and Declan Cusack of Chicago; Michael Nelkin of New York City; Nora and Michael Delf of New York City; Lucia Pizarro of Cranford NJ; and Katherine, Sean, Greta, and Brendan Lutz of Ashburn VA.
Jim, an only child, was preceded in death by his parents James Joseph and Anna Friend Cusack.
Funeral Mass will be held at St. Mary’s Stony Hill, 225 Mountain Boulevard, Watchung, NJ at 10 AM on May 20, 2017. The family will be greeting friends and relatives after the Mass.
In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial donations be made to the general scholarship fund at St. Benedict’s Prep,  520 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Newark, NJ 07103. For further information, or to light an online condolence candle please visit www.gcfuneralhome@gmail.com