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James Byrnes
In Memory of
James Michael
Byrnes
1940 - 2022
Memorial Candle Tribute From
Schuyler Hill Funeral Home
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Obituary for James Michael Byrnes

James Michael  Byrnes
James Michael Byrnes passed away peacefully on September 4th 2022. He was a man with an incredible
capacity to love, nurture, and protect all those who came to know him. Whoever engaged him in
conversation, or presented him with concerns or dilemmas, always left the conversation a better and
wiser person than when they entered it. He had a compelling uplifting presence and always seemed to
know just the right things to say or to do, no matter how difficult the situation!
He was born on January 11th 1940 to Grace Dollard and James Michael Byrnes Sr. in the Country Club
area of the Bronx, and remained a lifelong resident of the Bronx. He attended Out Lady of the
Assumption (OLA) for grade school and middle school, then attended Saint Helena’s High School
graduating in 1958. He met his wife Theresa Bonanno also from the Bronx, Pelham Bay, where they fell
in love as high-schoolers, married in 1957 and started a large family of 7 children.
His loving, nurturing, and protecting spirit inspired him to serve and protect our great city as a NYC
Police Officer. In fact, he was the second of three generations of police officers whose service span the
years of 1928 through 2018, when his youngest child Dennis recently retired. James served from 1965 to
1997. At retirement he was the Lieutenant with the most seniority in the Borough of the Bronx.
He was a fantastic storyteller and would regale his 7 children and 13 grandchildren with riveting stories
about growing up in the Bronx in the 40’s and 50’s, and with his compelling encounters while serving in
the NYPD, such as being assigned special duty at the United Nations to provide protection for Andre
Gromeko, who was then the Soviet Union Foreign Minister at the height of the Cold War. James was on
crowd control duty for Pope John Paul II’s motorcade during his NYC visit. It was raining terribly that
day, but the clouds broke, and the sun shined brightly just as the Pope was passing, drying his soaked
uniform, shoes and socks instantly and completely. James considered that to be a message from God.
One of the most perilous stories was of a gun battle he suddenly found himself involved in back in 1966
on 163rd street and Kelly. All his stories were quite memorable.
He left an indelible mark on all who knew him, and we shall profoundly miss him!
Jim is predeceased by his loving wife Theresa who died in October 2017, they are now happily reunited
in God’s Heavenly Care, and he is survived by all 7 loving children, James, Valerie, Richard, Michael,
Theresa, Robert, and Dennis. He is also survived by his beloved 13 grandchildren, and many nieces, and
nephews.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to NYCPBA Widows and Children’s Fund
https://www.nycpba.org/community/widows-and-childrens-fund
Visiting hours are Monday, September 12th from 3-7 at Schuyler Hill Funeral Home. Mass of Christian
burial is Tuesday, September 13th at 9:30 AM at Our Lady of the Assumption (OLA) Church at 1634
Mahan Avenue Bronx, NY 10461, followed by burial at the Old Saint Raymond’s Cemetery, Balcom Avenue, Bronx, NY 10465

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