James Dring

James “Jim” Matthew Dring, age 52, of Wayne, passed Sunday, May 1, 2022.

He was born in Pompton Plains and has been a lifelong resident of Wayne. He graduated from DePaul Catholic High School, where he was a member of the wrestling team, with the Class of 1988.  He continued his education at Rutgers University receiving his Bachelor of Science Degree in Economics with the Class of 1992.

Jim’s first job was as a lifeguard at Packanack Lake. He would go on to work at Mohawk Flooring in Elmwood Park and later worked for several plumbing supply companies that would merge into the Ferguson Enterprises Company in Spring Valley, New York over his thirty year career.

Jim and Marybeth Burke had been friends for a couple of years and met at a party at Rutgers University.  Then soon began dating and Jim proposed marriage on the peninsula at Packanack Lake. They married on March 20, 1999 at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Berlin, New Jersey and honeymooned in Ireland. Their twenty three year marriage was blessed with a son Liam and daughter Tegan.

Jim will be remembered as an avid sports fan who loved the New York Yankees, New Jersey Devils, the New York Jets, and the Dallas Cowboys.  For many years he has played softball on the Packanack Bombers Softball team.  Many will remember Jim as a fun loving guy who loved a good time. He was jovial, hard headed, honest, and had a huge and kind heart. His sarcastic sense of humor will also be fondly remembered.

Jim was community oriented and was a volunteer coach for the Packanack Lake Athletic Association and the Wayne Police Athletic League.  He gave back to his community and coached all kinds of sports including: basketball, football, baseball, floor hockey, flag football to name a few.

Jim was the loving husband of Mary E. “Marybeth” Dring; devoted father of Liam Dring and Tegan Dring both of Wayne; he was the dearly loved brother of Joan Brothers of West Milford, Nancy Schneeloch and her husband Kenny of Wayne; and Paul Dring and his wife Lori of Oak Ridge.  He will be dearly missed by his many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Jim’s Yellow Lab Jet and his Basset Hound Munson will also be missing him very much.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations to the NJ Special Olympics https://www.sonj.org/get-involved/ways-give/donate/ would be greatly appreciated