Obituaries: James J. Morris, Village Justice

James J. Morris, who served as Village Justice in Massapequa Park and was described as a caring, compassionate and fair man, died June 23, 2002. He was 86 years old.

Judge Morris was born in Brooklyn and raised in the Bay Ridge section. He and his wife Jeanne moved to Massapequa Park in 1955 and raised their family here.

Following his graduation from College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts with a degree in chemistry, for many years, Judge Morris worked as a chemist for the Union Carbide Corporation. After retiring as a vice president in 1977, he began to look for something to keep himself busy, said his son Peter. A stint on a jury set the wheels in motion and he signed up for St. John’s School of Law, passing the board and working for a law firm in Merrick.

"Dad reached his 60s and was looking for a way to keep himself active and engaged, and was fascinated with the exchange he saw between the lawyers and the jurors when he served as a juror," said his son Peter. One day, while sitting having lunch with his wife in the bagel shop next to Massapequa High School, his former bridge partner, then Mayor George Nussbaum walked in. The Village was losing its Village Justice and Nussbaum asked Morris if he would consider stepping in and filling the spot.

"You get to know a lot about people when you play bridge with them," said Nussbaum in recalling the incident. "I knew him to be a very fair and compassionate person and thought he would be wonderful as a judge."

That afternoon, after mulling over the decision for a few hours, Mr. Morris called Nussbaum and accepted the position. He served for 15 years.

"He was very proud to have been able to serve his community as a Village Justice," said Peter.

Following his appointment, Judge Morris was reelected several times before stepping down to become associate Justice two years ago.

In addition to his professional work, Judge Morris was active in his parish, St. Rose of Lima. He was a member of the Holy Name Society and taught confraternity classes there. He was also a Eucharistic Minister.

"My dad always had a smile for you and was more interested in how you were doing," said his son. "He was a gentle and great listener and very fair."

"The Village never made a lot of money when Judge Morris was serving because he was always so compassionate and understanding with the people who appeared before him, but he got the message across and that was what was important," said Nussbaum.

"He was a gentle man who was also a gentleman," said his son.

In addition to his wife Jeanne and his son Peter of and his wife Sara Anna Smith of Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina, Judge Morris is also survived by his children James of Clifton Park, New York; Paul of Cos Cob Connecticut; Kathleen of Washington D.C.; Virginia Marie and Nicholas Peruto of Drexel Hill, Pennyslvania and Thomas and Kathy of Raleigh, North Carolina. He is also survived by his grandchildren Leah, Kristen, Nicholas, and Vincent and by his brother John of Oceanside.

Judge Morris reposed at the south chapel of the Massapequa Funeral Home, 4980 Merrick Rd., Massapequa Park. A funeral mass was said at St. Rose of Lima and cremation was private.