Jim Mooney

 Dec. 15, 2023

Christmas time is here again, so it's time for the annual update (again).  To find out what we have been up to recently, read our online Christmas Newsletter . Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

This picture (from 2017) is to remember the summer in this time of cold and snow.

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• Our family history pages (somewhat out of date)
  
• Jim's professional website for West Virginia University. (It still exists!)
  
• Our Facebook pages:
• Jim
• Joan
• Liam
• Bridget
  

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Now a little about me and our family. (Not updated for awhile, but mostly still true) . You asked for it.

I was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, and grew up in Ridgefield Park, NJ. As a very young child I also lived briefly in Missouri, Wisconsin, and Illinois. I attended St. Francis School in Ridgefield Park (Class of 1960), which closed its doors, sadly, on the 50th anniversary of my graduation.  I also attended Bergen Catholic High School in Oradell, NJ (Class of 1964). I played the Sousaphone in band and was very active in the Boy Scouts (Troop 2, Ridgefield Park, in the Bergen Council, now part of the Northern New Jersey Council). I was also active in the Order of the Arrow (Oratam Lodge 484, now part of Lenapehoking Lodge). I am proud to hold the Vigil Honor from Oratam Lodge. I worked at Boy Scout Camp No-Be-Bo-Sco for seven summers (1962-1965 and 1967-1969).

At Notre Dame I helped to found the Sigma Phi Chapter of Alpha Phi Omega, the National Service Fraternity (This chapter, alas, is now inactive). At Ohio State I continued APO activities as a graduate member of Alpha Iota Chapter, and was an active member of the Catholic Community at the St. Thomas More Newman Center. Presently I am a member of the advisory board for Lambda Omicron chapter.

On April 29, 1972, I had the privilege of marrying my wife, Joan Arbogast. Our wedding took place at our favorite place in all the world, Camp Agapé, near Columbus, Ohio.

Joan and I lived in Montville, New Jersey, and Merrimack, New Hampshire, before moving to Morgantown in 1979. We now live in a home  we built about 15 years ago on the border of Coopers Rock State Forest.

Today we are the proud parents of four daughters, and grandparents of four granddaughters and two grandsons. Our daughters are:

• Tara, enjoying her career as an attorney in Nashville, Tennessee.
• Tressa, mother of Asia and Lydia, now a registered nurse.
  
• Alishia, mother of Liam, Bridget, Brian, and Gabrielle
  
• Asonda, enjoying photography and cool weather and currently working at Papa John's.
  

Our daughters have grown and moved out, but we are far from empty-nesters. We have adopted two of our grandchildren:

• Liam (formerly Will), enjoying working out and playing guitar
  
• Bridget (formerly Cheyanne), now a very active driver who seems to think she owns my car
  

Both are now officially adults, but still living at home.

Liam enjoys playing guitar and hunting and fishing.  He is a Scout leader for Boy Scout Troop 44 in Star City, WV.  , and plays bass with our church choir. 

Bridget is very interested in singing, and enjoys singing with our church choir.

Music is one of my favorite leisure pursuits. I play the piano and guitar and sing with the 11AM Mass group at St. John University Parish, our campus Catholic community in the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston. I am a member of the National Association of Pastoral Musicians. I also do a lot of cooking, and I enjoy (when time permits) backpacking (we are former members of WVSTA), photography, stamp collecting, reading, golf, a little woodworking, and a variety of computer projects.

Joan and I are also interested in exploring our family history and Irish heritage. We have visited Ireland several times and have taken part in Irish Week at the Augusta Heritage Workshops in Elkins, WV. We also look forward each year to our annual St. Patrick's Day party, to be rescheduled just as soon as we are allowed to get together again!