Obituary of The Honorable James C. Haggerty

The Honorable James Charles Haggerty, 88, passed away peacefully in his home, surrounded by his family on Nov. 10, 2018.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend the Funeral Mass at St. Rose of Lima Church, 50 Short Hills Ave., Short Hills, N.J., on Wednesday, Nov. 14, at 11:15 a.m. Entombment is in Gate of Heaven Cemetery, East Hanover, N.J. Arrangements are by The Jacob A. Holle Funeral Home, Maplewood, N.J.
Born Sept. 11, 1930, in Omaha, Nebraska, to Clarence E. Haggerty and Sarah Neary Haggerty, James was the youngest of seven children. At age seven, he entered St. Patrick's Grammar School in Newark, N.J. He was proud of his years singing in choir at the now Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart, and for his time spent serving as a page boy for Arch Bishop Thomas Joseph Walsh.
Once graduating from Barringer High School in Newark, he volunteered to enter the U.S. Air Force. He graduated from the Lackland Air Force base in San Antonio, Texas, and was assigned to the Yokota, Misawa, and Nagoya Air base camps throughout Japan. He maintained F80 shooting-star jet fighters and light bombers, and played for the Yokota 5th Air Force basketball team.
Returning home from the war, James attended Seton Hall University. No stranger to hard work, he was a diligent student, completing his studies in three years all while working full time jobs. One stipulation to completing school early was taking an international relations course. In this class there was only one female in attendance, his future wife. He married the love of his life, Marlene Segrich, on July 4, 1956, at the Sacred Heart Church of Newark.
After graduating early, James attended Georgetown Law School, where he worked full time in addition to his studies. He was admitted to the DC bar in 1958, New Jersey in 1959, and the United States in 1977. He was partner of HAGGERTY, DONOHUE, & MONAGHAN, a civil trial practice.
Judge Haggerty was one of the longest sitting judges in New Jersey history, a municipal judge on the bench for 40 years. He was known as an understanding and empathetic judge, all while remaining fair and true, earning the accolade for never having a decision reversed in all of his years on the bench. Even up to his retirement in 2016, he continued to perform additional duties for the state, such as conducting competency hearings for the New Jersey Department of Corrections.
A historian and master of geography, one of James's greatest passions was travel, and he was able to see the world with his surviving wife of 62 years. He was an avid golfer and a longtime member of Canoe Brook Country Club.
His greatest legacy is his eight children: Marianne Haggerty (Michael Seeley), Meg (Joseph) Gaul, Thomas Haggerty - predeceased, Sally (Frank) Mulcahy, Terrance Haggerty, Nancy (Jonathan) Gordon, James Haggerty, and John Jude (Jenny) Haggerty. He is also survived by his 26 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, donation to Alzeimer's Association Greater N.J. Chapter, 425 Eagle Rock Ave, Suite 203, Roseland, N.J. 07068 or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tenn. 38105-1905 would be appreciated.