James "Jim" Mccabe

James “Jim” Joseph McCabe died Friday, September 23, 2022, peacefully at his home in Denver.

Jim was born on May 21, 1933, on the South Side of Chicago to James Martin McCabe and Eileen Frances Griffin. Jim’s father worked for the Santa Fe Railroad, a job which eventually led west to Butte, MT. His father then joined the New Deal’s Civilian Conservation Corps, overseeing projects including the Going to the Sun Highway and Lewis and Clark Caverns. Jim’s earliest memories include making do in a small one-bedroom house with one hot plate and no running water in what is now Glacier National Park. Jim was one of five children, the sole boy with four sisters.  An early photo of Jim with his mother and four sisters is captioned in his mother’s handwriting: “You’re surrounded, boy!”

In 1942, work moved the family to Colorado. It took them two days driving the WWII speed limit of 35 MPH and they arrived on Jim’s 9th birthday. Jim was very impressed by the big city, he thought every street in downtown Denver was a “Main Street.” As a paperboy for both the Denver Post and Rocky Mountain News, Jim gained a deep familiarity with Denver’s streets he would later use to sell real estate and also to provide directions for his friends and family to their own homes.  In high school, Jim met his future wife, then 16-year-old Mary Louise Hayes, taking her for their first date to see The Boy with Green Hair at the Orpheum Theater. He graduated from North High in 1951.

Jim served in the United States Marine Corps, attending boot camp at Camp Pendleton in San Diego before shipping out to Korea, attaining the rank of sergeant.

On July 21, 1956, Jim married Mary Louise Hayes of Park Hill. He attended the University of Denver on a GI Bill, graduating in 1959 with a degree in accounting. Jim went on to work as a CPA, followed by a 30-year career in residential real estate. Jim and Louise raised five children in their home in Mayfair, all of whom graduated from Colorado colleges and universities. He was the very proud grandfather of 12 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. He was an accomplished skier, Christ the King parishioner, golfer, Optimist Club member, and a stalwart 50-plus year Denver Bronco season ticket holder.

Jim is survived by his wife of 66 years; Mary Louise, his sisters Kitty, Cecilia, and Jeri;  his five children Morna Steninger (John), Kathryn Sullivan (Gene), Martin McCabe (Greta Brandstetter), Kevin McCabe (Moira), and Peter McCabe; his twelve grandchildren Thomas Sullivan (Katherine), Matthew Steninger, Elizabeth Beyer (Dan), Clare Steninger, David Steninger, Colleen Sullivan, Madeleine McCabe, Grace McCabe, Mary van Jacobs (Brendan), Ciara McCabe, Kyle McCabe, and Leo McCabe; and three great-grandchildren Liam Webster, James Beyer, and Finn Beyer. He is preceded in death by his sister, Sue Martin.

Jim was an original. His charisma, work ethic, strength, devotion to his family, ability to turn an often colorful phrase, recall random facts, people and times, argue politics, tell a story and display old-world Irish fire and charm were with him until his last days.  Those of us left behind are now facing a world without our patriarch “Big Jim” and our comfort is each other and our memories.

In lieu of flowers , the family asks that you consider making a donation to Christ the King Roman Catholic School, 860 Elm Street, Denver, CO 80220.

Semper Fi and Sláinte, Jim. We will always love you.