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The Life of James Jr. Mutrie

James Mutrie, Jr., resident of North Haven and former Capitol Bureau Chief of the New Haven Register newspaper, died on October 26, 2016. He was born on December 14, 1926 in Paisley, Scotland. His parents James Mutrie, Sr. and Mary Horsburgh brought him to the United States when he was a young boy. He grew up with his family in Ansonia where he graduated from Ansonia High School. He earned degrees from Quinnipiac and Wesleyan Universities.James served in the U.S. Army during World War II. After the war, he married the late Rose Marie “Sherry” Weller and they moved to Albany, NY where he taught English at the Academy for Boys. The family moved back to Connecticut when he was hired as a journalist by the New Haven Register newspaper. He ultimately became the Capitol Bureau Chief in Hartford, a position he held for many years until his retirement after over three decades of service to the newspaper. Because of his integrity, deep knowledge of state government, and exceptional writing skills, he was well known in state political and journalism circles as the Dean of the Capitol Press Corps. He is survived by his daughter Bonnie McCallum and her husband Ted, daughter­in­law Laura Mutrie, grandchildren Jason McCallum, Jessica Thom and her husband Justin, Jonathan McCallum and his wife Sara, great grandchildren Jackson, Riley, Reagan, Ethan, and Sophie. He is also survived by his sister Rachel Patrick and her husband Edward, nieces Robin Twigg and Tamara Brereton and their families, and cousins Barbara Muir, Jay Murphy, and David Horsburgh. Rose Marie “Sherry” Mutrie, his wife and soulmate for 60 years, and his beloved son, James Mutrie III, predeceased him. James was happiest when he was with his family, especially his grandchildren and great grandchildren. His love for family was the only thing that surpassed his passion for golf, the Red Sox, smoking his pipe, and a fine single malt scotch. His presence at all family gatherings and events will be sorely missed. Friends are invited to join the family for a funeral service at the North Haven Funeral Home, 36 Washington Avenue on Friday, October 28th at 11:00 am with the Rev. Owen Sanderson officiating. Burial at Pine Grove Cemetery in Ansonia will immediately follow the service with full military honors. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Jimmy Fund at 10 Brookline Place West, 6th floor, Brookline, MA 02445­7226.



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