Obituary of James Howard Menk

James H. Menk, 82, died peacefully on the morning of January 16, in the circle of his family and his devoted caregiver. Jim suffered from Multiple System Atrophy, a rare neurodegenerative disease. Born in Niagara Falls, NY, Jim earned a degree in Metallurgical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and elected to Alpha Sigma Mu, the metallurgical honor society. He was a very active member of Sigma Phi Epsilon and an enthusiastic member of their jazz band.  He also earned a Masters Degree from Stevens Institute of Technology. His career was centered on the international non-ferrous metals and chemical industry, beginning as a development engineer for Union Carbide, continuing at Ametalco (the international marketing division of Amax), and culminating as the head of Penoles Metals & Chemicals, the US subsidiary of MetMex Penoles, of Mexico City, marketers of non-ferrous metals and chemicals, and traders of silver and gold on the London Metals Exchange. Jim was a member of numerous national and international industry associations, and served for several years on the board of the American Zinc Association and as its Secretary. From 1954-1956, Jim served in Korea in the US Army as a Specialist 4th Class, overseeing firearm stores and radar installations in the DMZ. In Korea, Jim achieved mastery of many local phrases and colloquialisms, which in later years he was happy to share with his children and grandchildren. Jim lived in Mountainside, Summit, and Basking Ridge, NJ, but was most at home at his summer house in Normandy Beach, NJ, where he was a member of the Normandy Beach Improvement Association and the Normandy Beach Yacht Club. Jim spent many happy hours there playing numerous sets of tennis with a great group of buddies, swimming in the ocean in all seasons, and enjoying the company of all of his family and close friends.  He was devoted to his family, an avid reader, world traveler, and lover of jazz and the natural world.  He was noted for his dry sense of humor, his storehouse of useless trivia, and his knowledge of Western New York beer jingles.  Mr. Menk is survived by his loving wife of 57 years, Maryanne Wade Menk, his grateful children and grandchildren, daughters Marybeth Mendenhall (Bill) of London, England, Susan Menk (Christophe Rosental) of Maplewood, NJ, and James Menk Jr. (Danielle) of Charlotte, VT, and six grandchildren (Pierce, Luke, and Toby Mendenhall; Hadley and Lily Menk; and Alexandre Rosental) and Nelson Manzon, his devoted caregiver. Memorial visitation will be held at Gallaway and Crane Funeral Home (101 South Finley Avenue in Basking Ridge, NJ) at 4-6 PM on Monday, January 20th, and a funeral Mass will be offered at St. James Roman Catholic Church in Basking Ridge, 184 S. Findlay Ave, at 11 AM on Tuesday, January 21st.   In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to Cure PSP, a foundation for PSP/CBD and related brain diseases, 11350 McCormick Road, Suite 906, Hunt Valley, Maryland, 21031.