James Patrick McGowan

James McGowan of Weehawken NJ, formerly of Limerick, Ireland, passed away on Wednesday April 25th, 2018. He was 50 years old. Born in Dublin, Ireland to Dr. Patrick and Joan McGowan, James was one of six children, raised in Limerick, where he attended Crescent College Comprehensive SJ. After graduation from secondary school, James attended the University of Limerick, graduating with a Degree in Mechanical Engineering. Upon graduation James moved to the United States to work in Asea Brown Boveri (ABB) Windsor CT, as a Senior Power Plant Design Engineer. He returned to Ireland in 1995 and received a Law Degree (JD LL.B) from University College Galway.  He then attended the University of Pennsylvania where he graduated with a Masters in Corporate Law (LL.M) in 1998. He started his financial career at Morgan Stanley and moved to the NYSE in 2001 as a Managing Director of Exchange Traded Funds (ETF). He spent his last eleven years at J.P. Morgan Chase as the Global Head of ETF Product Management.

James married Iva Dobrinski in 2004. The couple were blessed with their son Dylan, who is now eight years old. Dylan was James's life. As he expressed it, Dylan's birth was the happiest and most emotional day of his life.

James loved shooting baskets with Dylan, fishing, visiting the beach and his family in Ireland. He will be remembered as an intelligent, ambitious, loving, empathetic and kind soul. He had a quick smile and will be missed dearly by everyone who knew him. 

James was predeceased by his father, Dr Patrick McGowan, and his brother, Darragh. He is survived by his son Dylan, his mother Joan, brothers Peter (New York) and Fr. Martin SPS (Zambia), sisters Nicola (Campbell) and Trini, brother-in-law, his nieces and nephew, aunts and uncles, cousins, friends and colleagues. 

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in James name to the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust.