James J. Kiernan Jr., realtor, pub owner, philanthropist
James J. Kiernan Jr., 72, of Rehoboth Beach passed away Monday, April 2, 2018. He was born in Flushing, N.Y., Feb. 20, 1946, son of James J. and Kathlyn A. Kiernan.
Jim grew up as a young boy in Flushing, attending St. Kevin's Catholic School to be followed by one year in Xavier Academy before his family moved to Bayside, N.Y., in 1961, and he finished his education at Bayside High School. After graduation and before he even reached the age of 18, he committed to joining the Air Force in 1963. He started his military career in Texas completing basic training, followed by skilled shooting training in Oklahoma for a brief time. Jim completed his four years of military service in West Dover, Mass.
After his four years of service, he worked for Cerro Wire and Cable as a wire salesmen. On Nov. 27, 1969, he met the love of his life, Veronica Keefe, at the Neck Inn, a popular pub in Throg's Neck, N.Y. They married June 27, 1970, and began their life journey of happiness, family and fulfillment.
Starting in Annapolis, Md., Jim began his career in marketing for Volkswagen of America. Promotions up the corporate ladder led him to several moves including Richmond, Va., Columbus, Ohio, and Denver, Colo., where as vice president he took charge of eight states, a role requiring numerous flights and days away from his wife and four daughters. Before long, they decided he should accept an offer to move to Rehoboth Beach, a longtime favorite vacation destination, to manage Rehoboth Resort Realty.
In 1983, he successfully signed on with Coldwell Banker to make Rehoboth Resort Realty an independently owned and operated franchise location. Jim soon became a partner in the firm. Over the next several decades he grew the firm to its current four locations in Rehoboth, Lewes, Seaford and Milford.
Through those years, he represented and developed many single-family homes, townhomes and residential communities throughout Rehoboth, Dewey, Lewes and Georgetown. Jim had a passion for designing new construction, and loved the opportunity it presented to work with buyers and investors.
In 1986, Jim and Ronnie, along with two Wilmington-based couples, opened a little Irish pub named Irish Eyes on Wilmington Avenue in Rehoboth. Under Jim's leadership, Irish Eyes would continue to grow to locations in Lewes, Middletown and Milton. Over the years, the partners changed but Jim remained active in his role as managing member. His business acumen and conservative leadership led Irish Eyes to remain a successful, 30-plus-year business in an industry known for turnover and failures.
In 2005, Jim embarked on a new venture and joined several area businessmen and women as a founding director of Community Bank Delaware. Again his conservative nature and careful business planning helped lead this group to establish what is today a successful local community bank in Rehoboth and Lewes.
Throughout Jim's life his true passion was philanthropic work, leading by example and lending a hand to anyone in need whenever possible. In 2004, he spearheaded a group to build an Autism House, a home built with all donated labor and materials sold at market value, with all proceeds going to Autism Delaware. This effort raised almost $400,000 for Autism Delaware. He was an integral part of the Beebe Vision 2005 fundraising drive to raise money for the expansion of Beebe Hospital. By 2006, a record $12.5 million had been raised, a Beebe record at the time.
He supported, both financially and with his time volunteering, organizations such as the American Red Cross, hosting and participating as a committee member for 27 years in the Annual Nouveau Beaujolais Wine Tasting; Toys for Tots; the Lewes Police Department K9 Unit; the Boys & Girls Club of Rehoboth; the Cape Henlopen School District; Bagel Bombers Baseball; Boardwalk Buddy Walk; Lewes Fire Department; Milton Fire Department; Rehoboth Fire Company; and the Sussex County Association of Realtors Annual Needy Children's Auction.
In 2010, Jim and Ronnie Kiernan were named as the honorary chairs of the 21st Annual Best of the Beach Art Auction for their strong multiple-year support of Beebe Medical Center.
Professionally, Jim was recognized in 2006 with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Sussex County Association of Realtors. That same year he was honored by the Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce with the annual Mae Hall McCabe Award for outstanding contributions to the community.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Veronica; his daughters and their spouses: Jennifer and Jay Bastian, Kathy and Michael Newcomb, Maryellen Kiernan and Amy Kiernan; a special niece Carla Dolan; his five grandchildren: Molly Bastian, Jake Bastian, Quint Bastian, Matthew Newcomb and Morgan Newcomb; his sister and her husband Leslie and Hank Giles; nephews: Keith and Kevin Kunst and their families; as well as countless other family members, friends and business associates.
A Mass of Christian burial will be held Monday, April 9, at 1 p.m., at St. Edmond Catholic Church, 409 King Charles Ave., Rehoboth Beach, where friends may visit beginning at 11 a.m. A reception to celebrate Jim's life and accomplishments will be held following the Mass. All arrangements are being handled by Parsell Funeral Homes and Crematorium, Lewes.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in Jim's name to the Cape Community Fund, P.O. Box 110, Lewes, DE 19958, or The Boys & Girls Club of Rehoboth Beach, 19285 Holland Glade Road, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971.
Please visit Jim's Life Memorial Webpage and sign his online guestbook at www.parsellfuneralhomes.com.
