Obituary of James Greenhalgh

PUTNAM James "Whitey" Greenhalgh, 86, died Monday, January 26, 2009 at Day Kimball Hospital in Putnam, CT. He was the devoted husband of Mildred (Cogswell) Morse Greenhalgh, with whom he shared his last 15 years. James was born February 12, 1922 in Norwich, CT, the son of the late Agnes Nygren Greenhalgh and James Greenhalgh. He attended Plainfield public schools and graduated in 1940 from Plainfield High, where he earned 11 varsity letters. James was a member of the Springfield College, Springfield, MA, class of 1944, where he majored in Physical Education and graduated with a Bachelor of Science. At Springfield he played baseball, basketball, and football, and was rated one of the top punters in the nation. He received a Masters in Education from Springfield College and a 6th year certificate from the University of Connecticut. An important and proud phase of James's life began in 1942 when he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. He graduated from Officer Candidate School in 1943 as a 2nd Lieutenant. He fought in WWII as part of the 2nd Marine Division, from 1944-1946. James spent time in Saipan, Tinian, Okinawa, and Nagasaki. James left the Marines as a First Lieutenant, and was awarded the Asiatic-Pacific Medal, Victory Medal, Occupation (Japan) Medal, and Combat Action Ribbon. He forged important, life-long, and loyal friendships during this time and his experience as a Marine helped define the principled and honorable man he would become. After the war, in 1947, James began a 35-year career with the Putnam public school system. He taught Physical Education, coached football, basketball, and baseball, and eventually served as the high school guidance counselor. James was Putnam's most renowned football coach, and in 1999, the St. Marie - Greenhalgh Sports Complex was dedicated in honor of James and the late George St. Marie. James's overall coaching record was 574 wins, 306 losses, and 12 ties. In 1977, James married the late Charlotte McCulloch. They were together until her death in 1991. In 1993, James married Mildred Morse and enjoyed his later years with Millie, traveling New England, playing golf, cribbage, reading mystery novels, and dining out. For 15 years James enjoyed a second home in Naples, FL. James was a dedicated UCONN Girl's Basketball fan and a life-long loyal New York Giants fan. Besides his wife Mildred, Jim is survived by his step children, Ellsworth Morse of Haddonfield, NJ, and Marjorie Morse and her husband Robert Huntley, of Nashua, NH. All are welcome to share in a Celebration of James's life at 11:00am on Friday, January 30th, at the Congregational Church, 175 Main Street, Putnam. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent in Jim's memory to Springfield College Development Office, 263 Alden Street, Springfield, MA 01109, or to the charity of your choice. There will be no calling hours. The Smith & Walker Funeral Home of Putnam is in charge of arrangements. To share a memory with his famil, "Light a Candle" at www.smithandwalkerfh.com