Obituary of James C. Baumgartner, Jr.

James Clarke Baumgartner, Jr. “Tiger” James Clarke Baumgartner, Jr., a life-long resident of Madison, died at home on August 3 following a long illness. He was 65 years old. Jim, widely-known as "Tiger", was born on March 17, 1955 to James Clarke Baumgartner, Sr. and Patricia Tyer Baumgartner. He graduated from Madison High School in 1974. In 1975, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, where he served until his honorable discharge in 1981. Thereafter, Jim worked for the Division of Public Works of the Borough of Madison until his retirement in 2011 at the age of 57. Jim was a devoted and hard-working family man. He loved nothing more than family dinners on holidays and weekends. He was a passionate sports fan who rooted for the Yankees from childhood and had a special love of basketball. Other enthusiasms were cheeseburgers, jigsaw puzzles, and vintage movies and television programs, especially Westerns. Jim is survived by his beloved wife, Melissa (nee Pier) and two cherished sons of whom he was extremely proud, Jonathan Michael and Sean James. He is also survived by his siblings Mary Pat, Bill (Carol), Paul (Jennifer), Ann Baumgartner-Griner, Ellen Meisenbacher (Ray), and Tom (Sharon), and his sisters-in-law Melissa A. Baumgartner and Judy Pier. He leaves nineteen nieces and nephews and seven great-nieces and great-nephews. Jim was predeceased by his parents, his brother Michael, and his brothers-in-law Keith Griner and Robert Pier. Relatives and friends are invited to visit on Friday, August 7 at Burroughs, Kohr, and Dangler Funeral Home,106 Main Street, Madison NJ from 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m (following indoor gathering restrictions: 25/30 guests in the building at one time. Masks are required.). A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Vincent Martyr Roman Catholic Church, 26 Green Village Road, Madison, NJ, at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 8. To watch the livestream of the Mass, please visit https://svmnj.org/ . Interment will follow at the Restland Cemetery in East Hanover, NJ. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Lung Association.