James Harkins

JAMES W. HARKINS

December 20, 1940 - July 1, 2020

Jim Harkins was born in Perth Amboy , NJ, and moved to Tottenville, Staten Island as a toddler and never left. jim graduated from St. Mary's High School, perth Amboy in 1958 and started working at Nassau Smelting in Richmond from 18 years of age. After many company name changes, he retired from there at the age of 66. After his retirement, he became an Ambassador at the South Shore Golf Course for 10 years. As a young boy, Jimmy served as an Alter boy at Our Lady Help of Christian's Catholic Church and continued to serve for many years. As a young man , he loved bowling. he used to set up the pins at the local bowling alley so he could bowl for free. Jim was a 4th Degree Knights of Columbus member since he was 18 years old.  He took pride in helping out the community from mowing the lawn at the baseball fields to painting the church to coaching OLHC Baseball and Football, but his biggest accomplishment in the community was starting and heading up YAYC, the Yetman Avenue Youth Club Basketball program. Jim and his friends started the program to give the kids something to do on Friday nights and to help keep them off the streets. Jim cherished his friendships. He and his wife Karen were very active members of the Social League of United Tottenville, a social group that loved to travel together and socialize often. He leaves behind many friends. In Jim's free time, he loved to play golf with his friends, watch his beloved Mets and Giants on TV, and also loved catching one of his grandkids field hockey, baseball or football games.

Jim is survived by his wife of 58 years, Karen, his children, James and his wife Mary Ann, Carol, Kevin, and Jill, and his four grandchildren, Taylor, Chad, Matt, and Alea.