Obituary of James Fay

James Russell Fay Born: November 17, 1924 Died: January 10, 2015 James Russell (Jim) Fay, age 90, an "Icon" in his parish; A leader in his industry, died as he had lived, gently and peacefully, in sure and certain hope of resurrection at Silver Cross Hospital, Joliet January 10, 2015. The Joliet native, third of the three children of William E. Fay, Sr. and Helen Maloney Fay succeeded his father as President of Joliet-based Champion Machinery Company in 1962 serving in that capacity for 31 years. In 1993, he became senior Executive Consultant to CMC-America, creator of the Champion Baking Equipment and Systems, then under the third generation leadership of his son, Edward Charles (Ed) Fay. On his return from World War II service in the Navy's Pacific Theater, Jim took on a role in the industry team that created sanitary standards that have guided practice for decades, working until his death to spearhead CMC's drive to perfect engineering aimed at achieving today's highest world-class sanitary standards for a newly globalized market. In 1983, the company was selected to be the first to bring Automated, White Pan Bread Production to Mainland China. Although an enthusiastic ambassador of global customer relationships, Jim remained a steadfast champion of the company's "Made in America" commitment to quality and innovation. In 2011, at the age of 87, he was granted a US Patent for Bakery Equipment. In the current year of the 21st Century, Jim saw CMC America being recognized for its cutting edge cookie production and dough moving technology that allows bakeries and food preparation facilities large and small to achieve today's trending artisanal quality without loss of efficiency or maximum productivity. Jim's educational history began at St. Raymond's Grammar School where he graduated in the class of 1938. He attended Joliet Catholic High School until 1940 and finished his secondary education at Culver Academy, where he graduated as "Best All-round Cadet" in 1942. While studying Engineering at Northwestern University he was a member of the NROTC before serving as a Naval Officer in the Pacific Theater of Operations in World War II, stationed in Pearl Harbor, HI. In 1948 he was awarded an MBA by Babson College. In 1949 he was awarded a Bakery Science Degree from the American Institute of Baking. In 1952 he married Margaret (Peggy) Cunningham Fay at the Church of St. Raymond where he had previously received the Sacraments of Baptism, Holy Eucharist and Confirmation and where their five children were Baptized. He requested and received the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick at the hands of Cathedral Rector Very Rev. Bradley Baker who will preside at his Mass of Christian Burial and Resurrection on Monday January 19, culminating a long and blessed relationship with the Church he considered "the parish church of the whole Diocese of Joliet." Along with his wife Peggy, Jim was serving, at the time of his death, as one of the Co-Chairs of the Cathedral's Centennial Campaign. His deceased friend and brother-in-law William Cunningham, SJ did not hesitate to refer to Jim as "a Christ Figure" in the mold of the central character of Myles Connolly's parable novella, Mr. Blue. It appears that Jim modeled his vocation to "Give Back" on Christ's pattern of proclaiming the word, feeding the hungry of body and spirit and proclaiming the good news of Scripture. He remained actively in involved to the end of 2014 in a 44-year Ministry as a Cathedral of St. Raymond Nonnatus Minister of the Word. He served as an Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist for 31 Years and Visitation of the Sick of his parish and in the hospitals and nursing homes of the area. On the day of his death and at Masses during the weekend, his death was announced in pastoral messages that referred to him as "an icon" for the parish community where both Jim and his wife Peggy were, and where she remains, a tireless worker in lay ministries ranging from Proclamation of the Word at daily Masses to the Cathedral's Bereavement outreach and religious education programs. He admired and served with dedication in the Cathedral Of Saint Raymond St Vincent De Paul Society; and Meals on Wheels where he frequently visited to replace unconsumed meals with the next day's ones, understanding that their warm and respectful conversation was the principal nourishment he was called upon to offer. Jim's Civic and Community activities included Board Directorships of the Illinois Manufacturer's Association; the Will County Manufacturer's Association; the Three Rivers Manufacturer's Association; the Joliet Chamber of Commerce and the Bakery Equipment Manufacturers Association (BEMA); the International Bakery Industry Exposition; and as Executive Committee Member of the American Society of Bakers for 75 years. In 2004 when presented BEMA's Lifetime Achievement Award, Jim said in his acceptance speech "In this day of electronic global communications, or maybe because of it, I still feel that there is no substitute for the power of the honest look in the eye and the sincere, firm handshake." He was a Founding Member of the Joliet Country Club for 64 years and of the Chicago Lake Shore Club and Chicago International Club. Jim was preceded in death (by only three days) by his eldest Brother, William E. (Bill) Fay, Jr. (Margaret Hoover) and his eldest son, James Russell Fay, Jr. (Mary Fay, MD). He is survived by his wife Margaret Cunningham (Peggy) Fay and their surviving children: Patrick of Pawling, NY; Meagen (William Gunther) of Hollywood, CA; Edward (Cathreen Clohisy) of Wilmette, IL; and Christopher (Milena Villamar) of Birmingham, MI; thirteen grandchildren and several Nieces and Nephews. Peggy Fay begs their friends, in lieu of flowers to be as generous as possible with donations of time and/or treasure to a few of the causes to which they are deeply committed: the Cathedral Centennial Campaign at the Cathedral of St. Raymond Nonnatus (Contributions to be mailed to 604 N. Raynor Avenue, Joliet, IL 60435); the Chicago Detroit Province of the Society of Jesus; Cathedral of Saint Raymond Vincent De Paul Society; Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart; Franciscan Sisters of Mary Immaculate. Funeral Services for James Russell Fay will be held Monday, January 19, 2015 at 9:00 a.m. from the Fred C. Dames Funeral Home, 3200 Black at Essington Rds., Joliet to the Cathedral of St. Raymond Nonnatus, 604 N. Raynor Avenue, Joliet, where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. Private interment Resurrection Cemetery. Visitation Sunday, 2-7 p.m. at the funeral home. For more information: 815-741-5500