Mr. James J. Fanning, 90, of 380 Main Street, Wallingford, CT, husband of Joan T (Hennahan) Fanning died January 20 2015. Mr. Fanning was born in Marlborough, Massachusetts on March 8, 1924, son of the late James E. and Sarah (Parker) Fanning. He graduated from Marlborough, Massachusetts high school in 1941. He entered the military service at Fort Devens, MA and served during WWII in the European theater of operations with Co “F”, 110th Infantry of the 28th Division. He worked for the Federal Government for a total of 43 years and was appointed to the Veterans Administration Central Office, Washing DC to see in various capacities at several VA hospitals throughout the United States. His assignments included Cushing Hospital, Framingham, MA, West Roxbury, Jamaca Plains, Boston, Bedford and North Hampton, MA Washignton DC, Altoona, PA and his last assignment at the VA hospital in West Haven, CT. As a senior contracting officer he negotiated, awarded and managed contracts with Yale NH, St. Raphael’s and Milford hospitals involving the sharing of scarce medical resources in the psychiatry, stroke and epilepsy specialized in radiology, radio therapy, pathology and nuclear medicine. He was also appointed as a hearing officer for the agency and conducted hearings through the U.S. at various medical facilities. He also served as a commander of the Akroyd-Houde American Legion Post 132, Drum and Bugle Corp and Vice Commander of the American Legion Post. Serves as a current member in the CT American Legion Post 73. He served as a president of Florence, MA Civic Association when assigned to the VA hospital at Northampton, MA. He was also the president of the CCD (Confraternity of Christian Doctrine) for the Catholic Church Diocese in Western, MA. He was a former member of the Knights of Coloumbus and a life member of the Disabled American Veterans Association. Survived by his wife Joan of 60 years and children, Rosemary Finelli and her husband Joseph of Wallingford, Patricia Jeddry of Wallingford and Karen White-Pellegrini and her husband Brett of Wallingford. He is also survived by his sister Mary Mitchell of St Augustine, FL. Also survived by five grandchildren Joseph and Michael Finelli, James Jeddry and Sarah White and LCpl William White III (USMC). Great Grand Children Lillyana, Skyler and MacKenzie Finelli. Predeceased by his brother Robert Fanning and brother John William Fanning of Massachusetts.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in St. Therese Church, Middletown Ave, North Haven at 12pm. Interment will follow with full military honors at All Saints Cemetery. The visiting hours will be Friday from 9:30 to 11:30 am at the North Have Funeral Home 36 Washington Ave. In honor of James Fanning and in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St Jude Children’s Research Hospital PO Box 50 Memphis, TN 38101-9929.