MUNHALL-James Donald, 45, of Ridgewood, NJ, on September 11, 2001. Beloved husband of Susan (nee King) of Ridgewood. Devoted father of Lauren, also of Ridgewood. Also survived by his mother Marie Munhall of Commack, NY. His sisters Kathleen Walsh of Commack, NY and Patricia McAdams of Nesconset, NY. James grew up in Commack, NY and moved to Ridgewood in 1992. He received his BA from St. John's University in 1978. He was a member of St. Elizabeth's Episcopal Church, Ridgewood. A Memorial Service will be held at St. Elizabeth's Church, 169 Fairmont Road, Ridgewood on Saturday, September 22, 2001 at 400pm. In lieu of flowers donations to St. Elizabeth's Church, The Daniel P. Petrylak, MD, Cancer Re search Fund, Columbia Presbyterian Hospital, 161 Fort Washington Avenue, P919, New York, NY 10032 or Make-A-Wish Foundation of Suffolk County, Inc., 100-1 Patco Court, Islandia, NY 11749, in his memory would be appreciated. Arrangements en trusted to C.C. Van Emburgh Funeral Home, Ridgewood.

Copyright (c) 2001, Newsday, Inc.

James Munhall, a fan of the pinstripes

09/20/01

James Munhall was such a big Yankees fan that he taught his daughter, Lauren, how to read the baseball standings. Lauren is 6 years old. "He was a devoted father and husband, and the biggest Yankee fan there ever was," his wife, Susan Munhall, said yesterday. It's not that Mr. Munhall, a Ridgewood resident, was a standout baseball player himself, or that he went more than a couple of times a year to Yankee Stadium or that he identified with any one player. But as far as he was concerned, there wasn't anything much better than watching a Yankees baseball game on television with friends or family, she said.  "He would just constantly watch the games," she said.  

Mr. Munhall, 45, a managing director with Sandler O'Neill & Partners, an investment banking firm, died Sept. 11 in the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center. High atop the 104th floor of Two World Trade Center, Mr. Munhall worked among friends, many of whom had known each other for decades, having gone to college or worked on Wall Street together. "He worked with all his friends," she said. "They were friends for 25 or 30 years."  Some 67 of the firm's 177 employees are missing or dead, including the firm's founding partner, Herman Sandler. Before joining Sandler O'Neill in 1993, Mr. Munhall worked at the investment firm of Salomon Brothers, also in New York.

Mr. Munhall was born in Queens and raised in Commack, N.Y. He graduated from Commack South High School in 1974 and earned a bachelor's degree from St. John's University in 1978. He was a member of St. Elizabeth's Episcopal Church in Ridgewood. He enjoyed golfing and biking. Periodically, he rode his bike as part of fund-raising events.

In addition to his wife and daughter, Mr. Munhall is survived by a mother, Marie Munhall of Commack; and sisters Kathleen Walsh of Commack and Patricia Mc­ Adams of Nesconset, N.Y.

-- David Schwab

© 2001 The Star-Ledger.