James L Murnane

James L. Murnane, Jr. of Ridgewood Drive, Plattsburgh died Monday, October 29th, 2012 at the CVPH Medical Center, Plattsburgh. Born in Herkimer, NY on September 9th, 1926, he was the son of James and Margaret (Hartum) Murnane. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Janet (Cowden), a brother, Thomas Murnane and his wife Katherine, and seven children; Darcy Mousseau and her husband, John, Christopher Murnane and his wife, Molly, Patrick Murnane and his wife, Sheila, Maria Visco and her husband, Stephen, all of Plattsburgh, NY, Janet Murnane of Burlington, Vt., Andrea Murnane of Starksboro, Vt., and James Murnane, III and his wife, Susan, of Saranac Lake, NY. Jim is also survived by 12 grandchildren, Carly and Cynthia Mousseau, Kevin, Bridgid, and Haley Murnane, Michael, Christine, Patrick, II, and Kathleen Murnane, Julia Murnane, and James, IV, and Dylan Murnane. After serving as an Air Cadet at Niagara University, Jim graduated from Clarkson College of Technology in 1949 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering. He married Janet Cowden on July 7th, 1951 at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Herkimer, N.Y. After working briefly as a Field Engineer for the NYS Dept. of Transportation on the Barge Canal in Central N.Y., Jim began his construction career as a Project Manager with the Austin Company in Bay City, Michigan. After his eldest child, Darcy, was born, Jim returned to Central N.Y. and joined the John J. Harvey Company in Utica. He was the low bidder on the first new building at Plattsburgh State Teacher's College, Ward Hall, and moved his young family to Plattsburgh in 1955 where he opened a branch office of the Harvey Company located in the Witherill Hotel, Plattsburgh. After the Harvey Company was sold, Jim became Vice President of the Fletcher-Murnane Company and operated it until he bought the firm in 1970 and changed its' name to Murnane Associates, Inc. and operated their offices in Plattsburgh, Utica, and Syracuse until his retirement in 1986. Jim's construction firm built many landmarks throughout New York including the Clinton County Government Center, the Clinton County Jail, the Crete Memorial Civic Center, and the "R" Building and the Fitzpatrick Cancer Center at CVPH Medical Center. Notable projects that he constructed at SUNY Plattsburgh include the Myers Fine Arts Building, The Angell College Center, the Kehoe Administration Building, Hudson Hall, Beaumont Hall, and every high-rise dormitory on campus. Murnane constructed many projects for the 1980 Olympic Games in Lake Placid including the Olympic Broadcast Center, the Renovation of the 1932 Olympic Arena and the Opening Ceremonies Venue and the Cauldron that burned as an Olympic symbol during the Games. He built the original buildings and many subsequent expansions for Ayerst (Wyeth, Pfizer) Laboratories in Rouses Point, N.Y. His firm constructed projects at virtually every school district in Northern New York as well as hospitals, prisons, factories, and municipal infrastructure projects across Northern and Central N.Y. Jim served as a Director and President of the General Building Contractors of New York State and as a National Director and Life Director for the Associated General Contractors of America which awarded him the SIR Award representing the skill, integrity and responsibility which he displayed in his service to the construction industry, and in his dedication to his many employees and concern for their families. He was Director Emeritus and served as Chairman of the Clinton County Area Development Corporation. He was a founding Director and volunteer at the Beartown Ski Center where he taught his family the sport that he loved. He was a member of the BPOE, the Knights of Columbus, and the Equestrian Order of the Knights and Ladies of the Holy Sepulcher. He served on the Board of Directors for Catholic Charities for the Diocese of Ogdensburg. Jim was a dedicated supporter of Catholic Education, especially of St. John's Academy, Seton Catholic Central, and Seton Academy, where his children and grandchildren were educated. He served on the St. John's Academy Board of Education, and the St. John's Athletic Association. He was a devoted parishioner of San Marco Catholic Church in Marco Island, Fl., where he lived in retirement, and retained his membership and devotion to his home parish of St. John the Baptist Church in Plattsburgh. Funeral arrangements are with the Brown Funeral Home in Plattsburgh. A Mass of Christian burial will be held on Saturday, November 3rd at 10:00 a.m. at St. John the Baptist Church in Plattsburgh. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Interfaith Food Shelf, 127 Beekman Street, Plattsburgh, or to St. John the Baptist Parish, 7 Margaret Street, Plattsburgh, N.Y. 12901. Online condolences and memorial candles may be offered at http://www.brownfuneralhomeinc.com