Jim McAnaney Obituaries

Corrections: Suzy and Jim were married for 8 years (1999, not 1991), Jim died of complications of the bone-marrow stem-cell transplant, not of lymphoma, and
Jim was the Manager of the AIDS Surveillance Unit.

Philadelphia Gay News
August 31, 2007

James M. McAnaney, a key official in the city’s AIDS Activities Coordinating Office, died Aug. 23 after a three-year battle with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. He was 55.

McAnaney, who resided in the Oxford Circle section of the city, began his career in public health in New York City in 1981, where he worked for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, charged with the responsibility of tracking STDs.

In 1985, he was transferred to Philadelphia’s Health Department, where he was responsible for laboratory-based surveillance of STDs. In July 1987, he was hired by AACO as a disease investigator in the AIDS Surveillance Unit.

Over the years, he rose through the ranks of AACO. In December 2000, he was promoted to AIDS program services manager, the third-highest-ranking position at the agency.

A tall, lanky man, McAnaney was noted for his quiet personality. His rectitude helped restore confidence in AACO during the mid-1990s, when then-AACO director Richard Scott allegedly divulged the HIV-status of several people in the region.

“Jim was pretty good about keeping personal AIDS-related information locked up and not accessible,” said James C. Roberts, a former coworker at AACO. “He was a trusted figure and I respected his diligence in compiling and analyzing AIDS data.”

He said McAnaney compiled quarterly reports for AACO, detailing the spread of AIDS according to age, ethnicity, ZIP code and other factors. “The surveillance data he gathered was instrumental in getting federal AIDS grants for the region,” Roberts added.

Friends said McAnaney’s interests included photography, flea-market shopping and nature walks. At times, he could be spotted eating lunch at an Indian restaurant in Center City with his AACO coworkers.

About three years ago, McAnaney was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. He underwent a bone-marrow stem-cell transplant in May at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. Family members said the transplant took hold, but he developed fatal complications.

In a statement released by city Health Department spokesperson Jeff Moran, McAnaney was described as “a mentor and source of wisdom to all 28 current staff members of AACO’s HIV/AIDS Surveillance Program. He will be sorely missed by all of AACO.”

Moran said a permanent replacement for McAnaney will be selected through the U.S. Civil Service process.

McAnaney is survived by his wife, Suzy Drinan; two daughters, Nicole and Tristan; his mother, Maria Mengel McAnaney; and his brother, Thomas McAnaney.

A funeral Mass for McAnaney was held Aug. 27 at Old St. Joseph’s Church, 321 Willings Alley in Center City. Burial followed at Oakland Cemetery in the Oxford Circle section of Philadelphia.

	Obituaries
Home Funeral Mass Program Homily Eulogy Mass Card Thank You from Suzy Photos	Philadephia Inquirer, August 28, 2007 *Correction:* Tristan is Jim's son.
	*Online Obituary, Philadelphia Inquirer, August 29, 2007*
	*Corrections:* Suzy and Jim were married for 8 years (1999, not 1991), Jim died of complications of the bone-marrow stem-cell transplant, not of lymphoma, and Jim was the Manager of the AIDS Surveillance Unit. Philadelphia Gay News August 31, 2007 Obituary By Timothy Cwiek PGN Writer-at-Large © 2007 Philadelphia Gay News James N. McAnaney, 55, city health official James M. McAnaney, a key official in the city’s AIDS Activities Coordinating Office, died Aug. 23 after a three-year battle with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. He was 55. McAnaney, who resided in the Oxford Circle section of the city, began his career in public health in New York City in 1981, where he worked for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, charged with the responsibility of tracking STDs. In 1985, he was transferred to Philadelphia’s Health Department, where he was responsible for laboratory-based surveillance of STDs. In July 1987, he was hired by AACO as a disease investigator in the AIDS Surveillance Unit. Over the years, he rose through the ranks of AACO. In December 2000, he was promoted to AIDS program services manager, the third-highest-ranking position at the agency. A tall, lanky man, McAnaney was noted for his quiet personality. His rectitude helped restore confidence in AACO during the mid-1990s, when then-AACO director Richard Scott allegedly divulged the HIV-status of several people in the region. “Jim was pretty good about keeping personal AIDS-related information locked up and not accessible,” said James C. Roberts, a former coworker at AACO. “He was a trusted figure and I respected his diligence in compiling and analyzing AIDS data.” He said McAnaney compiled quarterly reports for AACO, detailing the spread of AIDS according to age, ethnicity, ZIP code and other factors. “The surveillance data he gathered was instrumental in getting federal AIDS grants for the region,” Roberts added. Friends said McAnaney’s interests included photography, flea-market shopping and nature walks. At times, he could be spotted eating lunch at an Indian restaurant in Center City with his AACO coworkers. About three years ago, McAnaney was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. He underwent a bone-marrow stem-cell transplant in May at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. Family members said the transplant took hold, but he developed fatal complications. In a statement released by city Health Department spokesperson Jeff Moran, McAnaney was described as “a mentor and source of wisdom to all 28 current staff members of AACO’s HIV/AIDS Surveillance Program. He will be sorely missed by all of AACO.” Moran said a permanent replacement for McAnaney will be selected through the U.S. Civil Service process. McAnaney is survived by his wife, Suzy Drinan; two daughters, Nicole and Tristan; his mother, Maria Mengel McAnaney; and his brother, Thomas McAnaney. A funeral Mass for McAnaney was held Aug. 27 at Old St. Joseph’s Church, 321 Willings Alley in Center City. Burial followed at Oakland Cemetery in the Oxford Circle section of Philadelphia. *Corrections:* Tristan is Jim's son, and Jim's mother is Marian.