Beloved Great Valley Sports Coach James McKay Dies At 53

Obituary and photo courtesy of Ceremony Society of Pennsylvania

James Daniel McKay

May 31, 1965 – September 25, 2018

James McKay, of Paoli, Pennsylvania, passed away after courageously battling cancer for over two years. James is survived by his wife, Marty (née Larkin); sons Nathanael James and Seth Brandt; brother Jonathan Charles, of Westmont, Illinois; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, and many nephews. James joins his mother, Sarah Brandt McKay and his father, Donald Evan McKay in Heaven.

James was raised in Strafford, Pennsylvania, and graduated from Conestoga High School in 1983, where as a senior, he captained his Varsity Basketball Team and was named MVP. He then attended Penn State University, where he enjoyed playing club basketball, and graduated in 1987 with a BS in Real Estate from the Smeal College of Business. He went on to work as a Real Estate Appraiser first for Enterprise Appraisal, then as a senior appraiser at H. Bruce Thompson Jr. & Associates in Bryn Mawr. In 1996 he started his own successful venture: McKay Realty Consultants in Paoli. While James was initially nervous to go into business for himself, he was soon grateful for the flexibility it allowed so he could perform his favorite job: husband and father.

On June 30, 2000, James married the love of his life, Marty. A year later, they were blessed to welcome a son – Nathanael. Less than a year-and-a-half later, their second son, Seth was born, and their family was complete. And this was the role that James cherished more than any other: family man. Spending time with his boys and Marty was his favorite thing to do. He loved taking the boys swimming at the YMCA, shooting hoops and hitting pitches in the yard, being a room-parent at their school, taking the family on trips to Boston and Williamsburg and Ocean City, NJ, and – especially – coaching them in little league and rec basketball.

In his travels as coach and volunteer, James made Great Valley a better community. He served as a coach in the Great Valley Basketball League (GVBL) from 2008 through 2017 and as a baseball coach (and Board member) in Chester Valley Little League for 10 years, where dozens of boys were able to call him “Coach.”

James taught the boys skills and rules, but, more importantly, taught them to respect each other, be fair, and have fun! James also served as secretary on the Elementary PTO Board, was Deacon at Wayne Presbyterian Church, delivered for Meal-on-Wheels, and was instrumental in helping Willistown Township move forward and install the Fox Hollow Trail. He also never lost his passion for basketball; he was MVP of the Narberth Summer League in 1987, played for over 20 years in the Norristown Men’s League, and then with the Mainline YMCA lunch pick-up league for 15 years.

James will be sorely missed by his wife and sons, his loving extended family, and by all who knew him. We will miss his deep faith, kind and gentle soul, quiet competitiveness, and his brightly colored Nike Elite socks.

As per James’ wishes, in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Great Valley Community Organization (a 501c3 organization and the parent organization for GVCO.) www.gvco.org

A Memorial Service for James will be held at 1:00PM on Sunday, October 7 at Paoli Presbyterian Church (225 South Valley Road, Paoli). Light refreshments to follow the service.