James M. Maltese, 81, of Middletown, passed away Aug. 26, 2024, at Artis Senior Living in Eatontown. He was born March 14, 1943, in Brooklyn, New York, the son of Vincent and Bette Maltese.
Jim grew up in Brooklyn playing football and stickball on 3rd Street and developed lifelong friendships there. Whenever he could, he would see his beloved Brooklyn Dodgers play at Ebbets Field, including during their incredible 1955 World Series season. As a teenager in September 1957, Jim caught the last foul flyball ever hit at Ebbets Field in the Dodgers’ final home game before the team moved to Los Angeles. The ball was proudly displayed on his desk throughout his life.
Jim attended St. John’s Prep High School and St. John’s University in Brooklyn and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in finance.
Jim met his teenage sweetheart and love of his life, Carmela “Chickie” Incorvaia, in 1959. Seven years later, on June 18, 1966, they married. They celebrated their 58th wedding anniversary this year.
Jim started his career as a manager in lower Manhattan for the global staffing company Kelly Services. He then made a job change that would become the focal point of his career. In 1972 Jim joined DuPont Walston, the brokerage firm run by famed Texas entrepreneur Ross Perot. DuPont Walston would eventually be bought by Merrill Lynch, where Jim worked as a financial advisor until his retirement in 2007. At Merrill, he pioneered a stock option exercise program that would later become the model for the financial services industry.
In 1967, Jim and Chickie started a family when their son James was born. Three years later they welcomed another son, Christopher. Always wanting a daughter too, they tried again eight years later and were blessed with a baby girl, Amanda. Jim instilled in all his kids the importance of hard work and knowing how to throw a good punch.
Jim volunteered in local youth sports for many years. He was his sons’ baseball coach and an umpire for the Middletown Youth Athletic Association. Starting in the late 1970s, Jim became a coach in the “emerging” game of soccer. Although he had never played, he was very passionate about the sport and became the head coach of the St. Mary’s Wild Stallions boys’ soccer team in 1979. Jim always liked to say that he was just “one page ahead of his players in the book,” learning the game as they went along, yet he went on to become an important figure in many of his players’ lives.
“Big Jim,” as he was often called, coached the Wild Stallions until 1989, when the players went off to college. Jim truly loved coaching this team of young men and remained close to many throughout their lives.
Jim enjoyed playing golf at Beacon Hill in Atlantic Highlands and was a member since 1991. He and Chickie also spent many winters enjoying the warm Florida sun and playing golf at Pelican Marsh in Naples. His summers always included plenty of time in the backyard pool with family, cheering on the horses at Monmouth Park Racetrack and watching the New York Mets’ pursuit of baseball glory.
Jim was “Pop-Pop” to seven grandchildren who love him dearly for his sense of humor, his generosity and the time and attention he always gave. His favorite spot was on the sidelines cheering them on in soccer, baseball, softball and basketball games.
Jim was a kind and generous man who always put family first. He is survived by his loving wife Chickie; brother George Maltese; sons James and Christopher (wife Caryl) Maltese; daughter Amanda Kane (husband Kevin); grandchildren Madison, Skylar, Abby, Sophie, Avery, Donovan, and Bette; his beloved niece and godchild, Robyn; niece Alexa; nephew Anthony; and sister-in-law Lynne Maltese.
He had a great devotion to St. Jude. Donations may be made in lieu of flowers to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and St. Vincent DePaul Society at St. Mary’s Church, Middletown.
The viewing was Sept. 3 at John F. Pfleger Funeral Home, Middletown. A funeral Mass was celebrated Sept. 4 at St. Mary’s Church in Middletown.
The article originally appeared in the September 5 – 11, 2024 print edition of The Two River Times.
