James Nealon

James J. Nealon, 1940-2015 Hoosick Falls, 74, died Tuesday, April 7 at Ellis Hospital in Schenectady. A lifelong area resident, Jim aka "Mr. Nealon" or "Cloud" was born on July 26, 1940 to the late John and Mary (Robinson) Nealon.

Jim was preceded in death by the light of his life, his wife Marie, who passed away April 19, 2012. They married in White Creek, N.Y. and raised three children Sean L. Nealon, Kathleen M. (Fred) Smith of Saratoga Springs and Marie A. (David) Kipp, Jr. of Hoosick Falls at the Nealon homestead on Elm Street in Hoosick Falls. Jim was a 1958 graduate of St. Mary's Academy and a communicant of the Immaculate Conception Church in Hoosick Falls. He was also a graduate of Hudson Valley Community College where he earned a degree in Mortuary Science.

Jim proudly served in the U.S. Marine Corps and his dedication to his family, friends, community and country embodied the Semper Fidelis Motto-Always Faithful. Jim was an active member of the Town of Hoosick Democratic Committee and served for many years as a representative to the Rensselaer County Democratic Committee. Jim saw politics as a way to help people and worked tirelessly to assist his friends and neighbors where possible. He was a member of the BPO Elks, Society of St. Stanislaw, the Derby Club, and the American Legion.

Jim retired from the New York State Assembly as Director of Operations nearly twenty years ago. Throughout his public service career, he also continued to practice as a licensed funeral director. Prior to his career with the state, Jim worked for the Rensselaer County Sheriff's Department as a Deputy Sheriff.

"Mr. Nealon/Cloud" had many hobbies: playing poker in Hoosick, going to the races in Saratoga and down to OTB to "play the horses" with his friends, following his favorite sports teams, Boston Red Sox, Washington Redskins, and Duke Blue Devils, as well as fishing with his grandchildren and attending their sporting events. He always looked forward to his March trek to Las Vegas with his son and friends from "all over the map." Jim and his beloved wife spent many years during retirement enjoying each other's company, traveling, and swimming at the Bennington Recreation Center.

In addition to his children, Jim leaves behind six grandchildren, Freddie, Suzie, Sam and Maggie Smith and Nora and Maxwell Kipp, a brother John of Florida, brother-in-law, many sisters-in-law as well as nieces and nephews. Jim was preceded in death by his sister Mary Alice (Lyle) Scott and brothers Lawrence Nealon, William Nealon and Charles Nealon.

A liturgy of Christian Death and Burial will be celebrated by Father Tom Zelker on Monday, April 13th at 10:00 a.m. in the Immaculate Conception Church, 67 Main Street, Hoosick Falls. Relatives and friends are invited to the visitation at the church on Monday from 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and to a reception at the Sand Bar following the burial at St. Mary's Cemetery. To remember Jim in a special way, memorial contributions are suggested to the Karen McGovern Fund or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.