[Njagdu] James Joseph "Jim" Elekes,

[Ginger Kutsch]

James Joseph "Jim" Elekes, 

URL: http://www.goldfinchfuneralhome.com/obituaries/James-Elekes/#!/Obituary

 

James Joseph "Jim" Elekes, Jr., 55 of Indigo Creek formerly of Franklin, NJ
died Tuesday, November 26, 2013 at St. Francis Roper Hospital in Charleston,
SC. 

 

Born in Denville, NJ, he was the son of Anna M. and James J. Elekes. Jim
received his BA in Political Science/Communications, MPA with a
specialization in Public Policy and, his M.Ed in Leadership and Educational
Administration. Less than on year after receiving his BA Jim became totally
blind due to complications with insulin-dependent diabetes which developed
after a bout with childhood maladies. Despite his disability, Jim completed
his MPA (1989) and , at that time was the only disabled individual to have
completed the Masters in Public Administration Program offered by Seton Hall
University's Center for Public Service Administration. Since the loss of his
sight, Jims accomplishments toward advancing quality of life and
mainstreaming individuals with disabilities include: 

Community Education Officer, NJ Commission for the Blind/Visually Impaired,
working with former Seton Hall President, Bishop John Dougherty to establish
the Electronic Information Educational Service (EIES) of NJ which was NJ's
first Radio Reader Service providing "on-Air" broadcast of newspapers,
magazines and other periodicals to the State's print disabled population;
Accessible Services Coordinator, NJ TRANSIT-Bus where he authored the
agencies first comprehensive plan for access to public transit services for
people with disabilities; Chairperson, NJ Governors Committee on the
Disabled, Policy/Legislative Sub-Committee; Vice Chairman NJ Commission
Recreation for the Disabled; Chairperson of the Paper Mill Playhouse,
Disabled Theater Access Committee; private Consultant; Presidential
Appointee/Public Member, United States Access Board, Washington, DC where he
was its Liaison to the US Election Assistance Commission (EAC), co-authoring
"Accessibility/Usability Standards for voting technologies procured by
States to enable disabled voters to cast votes independently. Jim also
served as the Board's Chair, Transpiration Committee, leading activities to
update Federal regulations for access by people with disabilities. 

 

Presently, Jim devotes his energies to Trans-Access Associates, LLC the
consulting firm he founded in 2005 to meet an identified unmet need in
academia, public and private sectors to aide in physical and programmatic
barrier removal, mainstreaming people with disabilities into all facets of
activities of daily life. 

 

Since graduation, Jim has focused time and expertise on enhancing the
quality of life for individuals within the community, responding to all
request for his knowledge, skills and abilities to resolve seemingly
irresolvable problems. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, 4th
Degree. 

 

Surviving in addition to parents of Franklin, NJ and his brother, David
Elekes and wife Suzanne of Ft. Wayne, IN; nephew, Dan and personal
assistant, Anita Kiser. James was preceded in death by his brother, Michael
whom he received a kidney from, grandparents, Anna and Joseph Jugan, Anna
and Joseph Elekes and a favorite aunt, Catherine Jugan. 

 

Memorials may be made to Junior Diabetes Foundation, 26 Broadway, New York,
NY 10004 or Seeing Eye Dog Foundation, PO Box 375, Morristown, NJ 07963. 

 

Sign guestbook at www.goldfinchfuneralhome.com

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