James A. McDermott, Jr., 83, of Bethlehem, died April 24, 2026 at Lehigh Valley Hospital in Allentown. He was born in Orange, NJ to the late James A. McDermott, Sr. and Helen Nelson McDermott. He was the husband of Bette Lynn McDermott (née Williams) for 57 years.

served in the United States Army National Guard,

He attended Pompton Lakes HS and Montclair State University.

Jim proudly served in the United States Army National Guard, beginning in New Jersey’s Armory division before transitioning to the Engineering division in North Carolina, where he developed skills in water purification.

With a successful career in the insurance industry, Jim served as both an underwriter and a broker, earning the esteemed CPCU designation.

In Summit, NJ, he was a coach for Summit Junior Baseball a long-time member of the New Providence/Berkeley Heights Jaycees and in the early 1970s was a proud and active participant in the grassroots effort to launch New Providence’s first voluntary recycling program, long before the establishment of mandated programs nearly a decade later. He was also a token Irish member of the Paca Club, where he enjoyed spending his Friday nights.

He was a member of St. Anne’s Roman Catholic Church.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by; five sons, James Thomas McDermott and his wife Michelle McDermott, William Sean McDermott and his wife Karen McDermott, Kevin Alvah McDermott and his wife Katie Conrad, Gregory Edward McDermott and his wife Tina Miles, Steven Patrick McDermott and his wife Victoria McDermott; two daughters, Dawn Michelle Brewster and her husband Mike and Kristin Lynn Dievendorf and her husband Eric; two brothers, Edward McDermott and his wife Barbara and Robert McDermott and his wife Alicia; dear family friend, Lee Ellen Chontos; and eleven grandchildren, Gene, Matthew, James, Lindsey, Mason, Jack, Kay, Jane, David, Sheena and Michael. He was predeceased by a sister, Edith Fanton.

Contributions may be made in Jim’s memory to the Children’s Specialized Hospital Foundation.

Arrangements were made by Madison Memorial Home.