Obituary of James P Delaney

James (Jim) P. Delaney, Jr. passed away on Thursday, February 11, 2021 at Bethany Gardens. He was born at home on August 14, 1926 the son of James and Catherine Norton Delaney. He grew up on W. Locust Street, just one house away from the former Rome Free Academy and often spoke about watching the school fire from his front porch. He attended St. Aloysius Academy and was a good student who either could not or would not pass the required Latin. Somehow he was able to make a deal to attend summer school for Science and get the added credits that allowed him to leave school early in January of 1944 to join the Navy with his school buddies Charles Muldoon and Robert Utter at just 17 years old. A debilitating knee injury derailed his commitment to serve, but opened a door to radio communications that he built his livelihood around. He attended RCA Institute in New York City where he met Catherine (Kay) Talbot. They were married in the Church of the Good Shepard, New York City on June 7, 1947 and returned to Rome shortly thereafter. Jim became the Chief Engineer at WKAL. Back in those days, jobs sometimes required you to do other duties and he would finish his shift at WKAL and go to Deerfield and help with the construction of the building now known as the WKTV Studio on Smith Hill. He transitioned to the position of Television Engineer with WKTV in a career that lasted more than 38 years. On his 86th birthday, the management and staff of WKTV kindly allowed him to visit the studio and transmitting tower and so he could relive the memories of his past. Jim was lifelong member of St. Peter’s Church. He was member of the Rome Elks for many years, and was House Committee Chairman twice. In later years he also member of the Knights of Columbus. Jim is survived by his two sons, Dennis and Lucille of Rome, and Patrick of Gilbert, Arizona. His three daughters, Colleen and Craig Joseph, Browns Mills, New Jersey, Sheila and Donald Palmer, North East, Maryland and Alane and Michael Perrone, Fredericksburg, Virginia. Seven grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his parents, his sister and brother-in-law Beulah and William Montross, brothers-in-law Joseph Talbot and wife Teresa, Michael Talbot and Lawrence Talbot. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Mary’s / St. Peter’s Food Pantry 200 North James Street, Rome N.Y 13440. Funeral services are private and there are no calling hours. Interment will take place in St. Peter’s Cemetery. Arrangements by Strong-Burns & Sprock Funeral Home 7751 Merrick Road, Rome.