James Johnathan "Jim" Limerick, a respected paramedic and fire service leader for more than four decades, died on Tuesday, July 7, at Liberty Health Station Campus. He was 60.

The retired Liberty Township Fire Department captain was surrounded by his firefighter family and his cousin Colleen Limerick when he died.

Funeral services will begin at 11 a.m. Friday, July 17, at Spring Grove Funeral Home.

Captain Limerick served more than 25 years with the Liberty Township Fire Department, where he earned a reputation as one of the region's most knowledgeable and respected paramedics. Captain Limerick retired in 2019. Before that, he served with the City of Monroe Fire Department and worked as a paramedic in New York, one of the nation's busiest emergency medical systems.

His commitment to public service extended far beyond his primary career. He worked as a paramedic with West JAD and in the Emergency Department at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, where colleagues said his calm demeanor and genuine compassion made a lasting difference in the lives of children and their families. He also volunteered with the Wayne Township Fire Department and the Shawnee Fire Protection District, and served as Planning Section Chief for the State of Ohio-Butler County All-Hazards Incident Management Team, coordinating complex emergency responses during critical incidents.

For more than 20 years, Captain Limerick served as Director of Public Safety Education at Butler Tech, where he taught and mentored hundreds of paramedic students. Colleagues and former students said he challenged them to excel, supported them through struggles, and inspired a generation of emergency responders who now carry his lessons into every shift.

"You always knew where you stood with Jim, and no matter the circumstance, he always stood by your side," the Liberty Township Fire Department said in a statement.

Captain Limerick was born on Nov. 11, 1965, in New Haven, Connecticut, and grew up in Valley Stream, New York. He was the son of Miles P. Limerick and Carol Ann Hamilton Limerick, who were married 44 years. He graduated from Islip High School in 1983 and earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Stony Brook University in 1993.

In 1993, he relocated to Ohio with his parents and his dog, M&M, beginning a career in public service that would span three decades.

He is survived by his sister, SherryAnn LaRusso of Florida; his nephew Sean LaRusso and niece Nicole Costa, both of Florida; his Aunt Clare Limerick of New York; and numerous cousins and friends. He was a devoted son who cared for his parents and a fiercely loyal friend known for going the extra mile for anyone in need.

Visitation will be held Friday, July 17, from 11 a.m. to noon at Spring Grove Funeral Home, 11285 Princeton Pike, Cincinnati. Funeral services will follow at noon. Burial will be at Spring Hill Cemetery, 6894 Princeton Road, Liberty Township, at 1 p.m.

In lieu of flowers or other memorial gifts, donations may be made, in Captain Limerick's honor, to the International Association of Fire Fighters, I.A.F.F. Local 4394 Charity Fund, 5847 Woodthrush Lane, West Chester, Ohio 45069.