Obituary of James Conley Sheil

James Conley Sheil, 48, died suddenly on March 19, 2013 at his home in Little Falls, NJ. Born in Newark on May 25, 1964, Jim was an attorney at McCarter & English and an Adjunct Professor of Legal Research and Writing at Seton Hall Law School, in Newark. He was a member of the Business and Financial Services Litigation Group at McCarter and devoted much of his time to pro bono work for Immigration Equality in New York City. At McCarter, he was a sought-after analyst of the law and appellate brief writer who interacted with many of the firm's attorneys at all of its multi-state offices. Jim was raised in Maplewood, and lived in Bloomfield and Little Falls. He graduated from Columbia High School in Maplewood in 1982. While there, he excelled in gymnastics and competitive swimming. Jim graduated from Columbia University in New York City with a B.A. in English in 1986. Jim received his J.D. from Seton Hall Law School, summa cum laude, in 1999. At Seton Hall, he was the Managing Editor of the Seton Hall Law Review. Upon his graduation, Jim spent a year as a law clerk for the Hon. John C. Lifland, in federal district court in Newark. Prior to his legal career, Jim had been the managing editor for several weekly New Jersey newspapers and he worked in public relations. He was a gifted writer and received much recognition for his work, including seven NJ Press Association Awards, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Human Rights Award from the City of Orange, NJ, and a public commendation from the Isaiah House Emergency Shelter for exposing the conditions of homeless families in East Orange, NJ. Jim is survived by his long-time friend Andrew Napolitano, his parents Betsy and Harry Sheil, his siblings Harry and Ellen Sheil, Marianne Sheil, Bonnie and David Brienza, and Brian and Susana Sheil, his grandmother Anne Conley Funcheon, his six nieces and nephews, and a large, loving, extended family. His commitment to the defense of personal freedoms and human rights was a guiding force in his life. He had a special place in his heart for animals, especially his dog Gina. Jim was a loving family member, a voracious reader, and an amateur Egyptologist. He had a brilliant mind and a gentle soul, and he gave generously of his brief time on earth. In addition to his family, Jim was loved by his colleagues and his students. His loss will be deeply felt by all whose lives he touched. Viewing will be Sunday, March 24, 2013 at the Jacob A. Holle Funeral Home, 2122 Millburn Avenue, Maplewood, NJ, from 1:00 to 6:00 pm. A funeral mass will be held for the repose of Jim's soul at Our Lady of Sorrows Roman Catholic Church, 217 Prospect Street, South Orange, NJ, at 10:30 am on Monday, March 25, 2013. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to The James Conley Sheil Foundation, P.O. Box 100, Newton, NJ 07860, which will support the education of students at Seton Hall Law School and the many charitable organizations about which Jim was passionate and which served the poor, immigrants, and abandoned animals.