Longtime Middletown resident and former Zoning Board and Sewage Authority chairman and Planning Board vice chairman, James “Jim” Hinckley, passed away on Jan. 27, 2026. He was 86.
A lifelong resident of New Jersey, Jim was born in Jersey City, married and started a family in Hasbrouck Heights, and lived in Middletown for the past 50 years.
“Jim was a kind, loving, and supremely friendly man who loved being around people …
Loved ones of Jim Hinckley in his obituary
“Jim served as a councilman of Hasbrouck Heights for three years in the 1970s. After moving to Middletown in 1977, he continued public service by serving as vice chairman of the Planning Board, chairman of the Sewage Authority and chairman of the Zoning Board for 48 years.
“He was active with Boy and Girl Scouts and Middletown High School South band parents, and was a friendly and loving ‘extra dad’ to the many church, school and scout friends of his children.
“He was very proud of his Irish heritage and served on the NYC St. Patrick’s Day committee for 30-plus years, and was a member of The Ancient Order of Hibernians, where he was honored as The Man of The Year in 2021. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus and the men’s group of Holy Cross church …
“He believed in service to others, and throughout his life was continuously involved in numerous civic and service organizations. The first of these was as a member of The Order of Demolay in his youth (receiving their highest honor as a Chevelier), through which he made lifelong friends. Through Demolay’s association with The Order of Rainbow For Girls and a little bit of group matchmaking, he met and married Elaine, and became a devoted father to Andrew and Elizabeth.”
Jim was a graduate of Rutgers University and worked in business as a banker and later as an executive recruiter, until retiring two years ago.
Jim was lifelong man of faith. He was active in the Methodist and Lutheran churches before finding a spiritual home in Roman Catholicism, and was an active member of Holy Cross Church in Rumson for the past 30 years.
Jim leaves behind: his loving wife of 62 years, Elaine (Espinosa) Hinckley; his son, Andrew Hinckley, and daughter-in-law, Kimberly Graziano, of Chalfont, PA; his daughter, Elizabeth Hinckley; and many loving family members and friends.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 3, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Thompson Memorial Home, 310 Broad St., Red Bank, NJ 07701. A mass of christian burial will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 4, at 10:30 a.m. at Holy Cross Church, 30 Ward Ave., Rumson, NJ 07760. Entombment will follow at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Middletown.
— Edited obituary prepared by family via Thompson Memorial Home
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