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RIDGEWOOD, N.J. – James P. Gatens, of Ridgewood, died Tuesday, April 19. He was 71.
A native of New York City’s Hell’s Kitchen and Inwood, and a longtime resident of Blauvelt, N.Y. and Spring Lake, he was a 50-year member of Local 751, treasurers and ticket sellers, and took great pride in his 30-year tenure as head treasurer of Times Square’s TKTS booth.
Working in partnership with Pat, he also owned and managed the Spring Lake Inn from 1994-2002, and following his semi-retirement, spent his days following his grandchildren from place to place. He was a constant fixture in the audience, on the sidelines and wherever they would be.
For all of his accomplishments, the most important thing, aside from his family, was his 39-year membership in Alcoholics Anonymous. Sober since Dec. 27, 1976, he credited the principles and fellowship of the program as being key to his long-lasting sobriety.
The family will receive guests from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Feeney Funeral Home in Ridgewood. A Mass will be conducted at 10 a.m. Monday at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Roman Catholic Church in Ridgewood, followed by interment at Rockland Cemetery in Sparkill, N.Y.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Encore Community Services, 239 W. 49th St., New York, NY 10019.
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