James P Healy

Obituary Honorable James Peter Healy Retired Superior Court Judge James P. Healy died Thursday, March 22, 2007, of a heart attack at Allenmore Hospital in Tacoma, Washington, in the presence of his wife and relatives, a week after abdominal surgery. He had celebrated his 90th birthday 10 days earlier. Born March 12, 1917, in Miles City, Montana, as the eldest of five children to Cecile Aikens Healy and James Peter P. Healy, an attorney, he moved with his four sisters and parents to Tacoma in 1926. He graduated from Bellarmine High School in 1934 and attended the University of Washington on a football scholarship. After breaking his hand playing football, he lost his scholarship but was subsequently recruited by Gonzaga University from which he graduated in 1938. He went on to earn a law degree at Georgetown Law School in 1942. He passed the bar exam prior to graduating from law school and joined the FBI out of law school. After serving in the supply corps of the US Navy in World War II, he then practiced law in South Tacoma until joining the Pierce County Superior Court as a Judge in 1974. He retired from the bench in 1992. Since his retirement, he has officiated at weddings in the garden of his home and has been an active member of a weekly prayer group. He has been a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church since 1926. He married Dorothy Kiely in January, 1943, with whom he had three children, Helen (married to Neil Modie), Cecilia (married to Jim Herbert), and James (married to Amy Harr). He married Sofia Di Re in January, 1990. He is survived by all of the aforementioned as well as three grandsons, James Herbert and Christopher and William Healy, and two granddaughters, Alexandra and Deirdre Herbert, two stepsons Anthony Di Re and Nicholas A. Di Re (married to Julie), step-granddaughter Elizabeth (married to Ian Hartley), step-grandsons Nicholas A. Di Re Junior (married to Nikki), Dr. Christopher A. Di Re (married to Barbara), both of Seattle, and step-great-granddaughters Sophia and Claudia Di Re in addition to many nieces and nephews. His family and friends will sorely miss him. After retirement, Jim and Sofia traveled to different parts of the world, visiting courts of law in England, Ireland, Scotland, France, Italy, Hawaii, China, Hong Kong, Mexico, the Royal Court of Luxemburg, and the Royal Court of Amsterdam. He had a great love for family, children and young people. He performed weddings in the beautiful garden of his home. Jim accommodated soldiers prior to overseas duty at all hours of day and night, sometimes at 12:01 midnight. He was an advocate for elementary and higher Catholic education for young people. Up to his death, he read three newspapers daily, cutting out articles for future reference. Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, March 31 at St. Patrick's Catholic Church at 11 am. Interment will be at Calvary Cemetery. Friends are encouraged to pray a private Rosary for Jim. Please leave online condolences at www.gaffneyfuneralhome.com. Arrangements by Gaffney Funeral Home 253-572-6003. inlieu of flowers donations can be sent to St. Patrick's School or the American Heart Association.