James M. McCusker, Jr., 76, a 45-year resident of Clinton and former Clinton first selectmen, died on May 17 at the Connecticut Hospice after a courageous battle with cancer. Jim was married to Judith (Czarnecki) on June 30, 1962 and they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary last summer.

Jim was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on Dec. 22, 1936, son of the late James M. and Evelyn (White) McCusker. He was raised in Milton, Massachusetts, graduated from Milton High School, and continued on to receive a bachelor of science in business administration from Boston College, class of 1958. After college, he attended Officer Candidate School in Quantico, Virginia, and became a 1st lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps. After being commissioned in 1958, he served as an infantry officer until 1961.

Jim worked as a site selector for Shell Oil and Hess Corporation and then became Northeast director of Real Estate Development for the McDonald’s Corporation from 1971 to 1986.

Jim also devoted much of his time to community service in Clinton. After retiring from McDonald’s Corporation and serving on Clinton’s Board of Finance, he was elected to five terms as first selectman of Clinton and retired from public service in 2005.

An avid Boston Red Sox fan and talk show junkie, Jim was also involved in Clinton’s Democratic Town Committee, the Clinton Education Federation, Families Helping Families, Meals on Wheels, and St Mary’s Knights of Columbus.

Besides his wife, he is survived by four children, Jane Higgins and her husband Bob of Windham, New Hampshire, Jim McCusker and his wife Nell of Deep River, Krista Ackert and her husband Art of Poughkeepsie, New York, and Maura Doxsee and her husband Jim of Killingworth. He is also survived by seven grandchildren, Alyson, Melissa and Patrick Higgins, Lindsey and Ryan Ackert, and Elizabeth and Meghan Doxsee; his brother Bob McCusker of Boston, Massachusetts, Falmouth, Massachusetts, and Naples, Florida; his sister Ellen (McCusker) Affanato and her husband Don of Milton, Massachusetts; and his sister Maura (McCusker) Devin and husband Bob of South Weymouth, Massachusetts. In addition, he is survived by his mother-in-law Jane Czarnecki of Vernon; his brother-in-law Jack Czarnecki and wife MaryAnn of Sanibel Island, Florida; and many nieces, nephews, and close friends.

His funeral service was held on May 21 at St. Mary's of the Visitation Church in Clinton. Burial was in St. Mary's Cemetery, Clinton, with full military honors. Memorial donations may be made to Clinton's Families Helping Families, the Clinton Education Federation, The Henry Carter Hull Library of Clinton, or the Connecticut Hospice in Branford. The Swan Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. Please visit www.swanfh.com for condolences and tributes.