Born in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, on June 15, 1958, James F. McCauley Jr. was the first of four children born to James F. and Joan McCauley.

The family moved to Staten Island, where Jim attended St. Rita’s Grammar School, McKee High School, and was a parishioner of Holy Catholic Church for over 50 years.

Jim was extremely athletic and while attending McKee High School, he played and excelled in varsity basketball, baseball, and hockey. He coached the Mid-Island Babe Ruth team and assisted with the travel hockey team his young son, James, played goalie for.

From the time he was a young boy and would visit his father at the firehouse, Jim’s dream was to become a fireman. As a young man, he followed his passion and joined the FDNY in 1979. He worked in Harlem, New York, for 22 years before rising to the rank of lieutenant. Throughout his career, Jim received multiple commendations for saving lives.

Continuing his fondness for hockey, Jim played on FDNY’s hockey team for a number of years. As an avid NY Rangers fan, he enjoyed attending countless hockey games at Madison Square Garden with his son. He also enjoyed traveling south in the winter months to spend time fishing with his good friend Greg in the Florida Keys.

Jim retired from the FDNY in April 2011 after 32 years of service. He and his wife, Robyn, moved to Conway, South Carolina, in September 2013. He loved living in South Carolina and would always say, “It’s a beautiful day in paradise.” Jim was an outstanding cook and enjoyed preparing delicious meals for his wife and himself. He often prepared enjoyable dishes for special community events. An avid golfer, Jim enjoyed playing numerous rounds of golf with his wife and friends on many of the beautiful golf courses South Carolina has to offer. When not golfing or cooking, you could find Jim working outside in his meticulously kept garden. He loved planting colorful, seasonal flowers to enhance and brighten the landscape surrounding his home. In his home that he loved so much, Jim enjoyed relaxing in his favorite chair, reading his books.

On St. Patrick’s Day, you would find Jim in the kitchen making corned beef and cabbage as the sounds from his FDNY bagpipe CDs filled the air. He loved listening to his Irish music, especially The Makem Brothers and The FDNY Pipes and Drums.

Jim served in the rescue and recovery efforts at Ground Zero on September 11, 2001, and for several months afterwards. In 2021, he was diagnosed with 9/11 related cancers and passed away at home on September 20, 2022. He is deeply missed every day by his wife and soulmate as well as his family.