James Walter Curran Jr., an advertising executive, entrepreneur and board president of the foundation that publishes The Catholic Review, died of melanoma Tuesday at his home in Towson. He was 77.
Mr. Curran was born in Baltimore and raised in the city's Hamilton neighborhood, the eldest of five boys. He graduated from Loyola Blakefield High School and earned a bachelor's degree in business from the University of Maryland and a law degree from the University of Baltimore.
In 1952, Mr. Curran married his high school sweetheart, the former Mary Elizabeth "Betty" Morgan. The couple had six children and lived for 43 years in Riderwood in Baltimore County. With his brother Thomas Curran, Mr. Curran opened and owned four Curran's Delis and Curran's Seafoods in Baltimore, Annapolis and Ocean City.
Mr. Curran was a first lieutenant in the Air Force, stationed in Germany, from 1953 to 1955. Upon returning home, he began a 25-year career in radio and TV advertising. He sold ads for two local TV stations before switching careers in his mid-50s to become an investment adviser at Legg Mason. He retired from Dean Witter in 1995.
But that did not slow him down. Mr. Curran continued to sell advertising in retirement and served on the board of the Cathedral Foundation, which publishes The Catholic Review and owns the Cathedral Press. At the time of his death, Mr. Curran was the board's president.
For 39 years, Mr. Curran was active in Alcoholics Anonymous as a sponsor helping dozens of people overcome addiction. He also was a president of Tuerk House in Baltimore, a home for people with drug and alcohol addictions.
An athlete throughout his life, Mr. Curran played baseball and football in high school and enjoyed swimming, body surfing and golf later in life. He exercised three times a week with other seniors at the Towson University Wellness Center. He also was an avid spectator and attended the Turkey Bowl game between Loyola and Calvert Hall high schools every year.
An enthusiastic Irish-American, Mr. Curran and his family faithfully attended Baltimore's St. Patrick's Day Parade. He was active in the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick and the Hibernian Society. He was also a eucharistic minister at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Towson, where he was a member.
A Mass of Christian burial will be offered at 10 a.m. tomorrow at Immaculate Conception Church, 200 Ware Ave. in Towson.
In addition to his wife, Mr. Curran is survived by two sons, James Curran of Towson and Michael Curran of New Freedom, Pa.; four daughters, Cynthia Strachan of Timonium, and Susan Cole, Sharon Curran and Cheryl DiNardo, all of Lutherville; three brothers, Gerald Curran of Baltimore, Brian Curran of Berlin and Dennis Curran of Hockessin, Del.; 18 grandchildren; and a great-grandchild.