Background
James was born on 9 November in 1930, in Massachusetts, United States.
- Photos
- Works
Main Photo
James Comley
2016
New York, NY
James F. Comley - portrait
Ellis Island Medal of Honor
2011
New York, NY
James F. Comley receives the Ellis Island Medal of Honor
UMass Lowell Honorary Alumni Award
2018
Lowell, Massachusetts
Chancellor Jacqueline Moloney presents James F. Comley with the 2018 UMass Lowell Honorary Alumni Award
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Other photo of James Comley
1951
James F. Comley - US Navy stationed aboard USS Hawkins
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Other photo of James Comley
1952
USS Hawkins
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Other photo of James Comley
2011
New York, NY
James F. Comley receives the Ellis Island Medal of Honor
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Other photo of James Comley
2011
New York, NY
Ellis Island Medal of Honor
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Other photo of James Comley
2011
Ellis Island Medal of Honor listed in the Congressional Records - James Fay Comley - recipient
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Other photo of James Comley
2011
New York, New York
Ellis Island Medal of Honor - listed in Congressional Records - recipient, James F. Comley for 2011
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Other photo of James Comley
2018
Lowell, Massachusetts
Chancellor Jacqueline Moloney presents James F. Comley with the 2018 UMass Lowell Honorary Alumni Award
great grandfather: James Comley
1880
Lexington, Massachusetts
James Henry Comley
Grandfather: John Comley
1930
Bedford, Massachusetts
John Ridgway Comley - Founder of the Bedford Grange #283 of the National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry. The grange is an organization in the United States that encourages families to band together to promote the economic and political well-being of the community and agriculture.
Mother: Freda Comley
2002
Bedford, Massachusetts
Freda Comley
Spouse: Virginia Comley
2013
Bedford, Massachusetts
Virginia (Keefe) Comley
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James Fay Comley
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James F. Comley is an entrepreneur and advocate for safety and security in the elevator, escalator and vertical people mover industry. Comley has served on the Massachusetts Board of Elevator Regulations in the state’s Department of Public Safety for over 20 years and was elected the Chairman in 2006. He was a speaker at numerous conventions around the country on the subject. He was honored with an Ellis Island Medal of Honor in 2011.
Education
James F. Comley graduated from Lexington High School in Lexington, Massachusetts in 1948
Career
1951 to 1955 US Navy aboard the USS Hawkins
1955 to 1968 Payne Elevator
1969 - Founded City Elevator
1972 - Sold City Elevator and bought Embree & White Elevator
1974 - Embree & White Elevator renamed Embree Elevator, Inc
Achievements
Connections
James Fay Comley married Virginia Keefe on November 28, 1953
- Mother:
- Freda Comley
- Spouse:
- Virginia Comley
- great grandfather:
- James Comley
- Grandfather:
- John Comley
Freda Comley was the mother of James Fay Comley.
Freda Comley was a member of the American Red Cross Motor Corps from 1940 to 1945. Mrs. Comley was a motorist in the unit transporting volunteers and nurses to and from their posts at the Bedford Veterans Affairs Medical Center which specialized in treating neuropsychiatric patients.
From 1961 to 1970, Freda B. Comley was elected to the Bedford, Massachusetts Board of Public Welfare. She served as the Welfare Board Representative on the Bedford Council On Aging and was a delegate for The March of Dimes, environmental issues, and women’s rights.
Freda Comley was a member of the Grange for over 75 years and served as Secretary for over 40 years.
Virginia Keefe Comley was born in Waltham, Massachusetts. She graduated from Waltham High School and went to work at New England Telephone and Telegraph Company until 1956. In 1953, she married James F. Comley and moved to Bedford. The couple founded an elevator service and repair business in 1968 and then bought and sold several other companies to form what is now known as Embree Elevator. Virginia retired from the company in 1998 after 30 years serving as co-founder, secretary and bookkeeper. Virginia was a long-standing member of St. Michael's Parish, a member of the Bedford Garden Club and a supporter of several charities, including The Theatre Museum, Central Park Conservancy's Women's Committee, The Actors Fund and The Hampton Classic, among others. Virginia is an Honorary Alumnae of UMASS Lowell, where there is an endowed scholarship in her name.
pioneering horticulturist author floriculturist, James Comley was the great grandfather of James Fay Comley
John Ridgway Comley, Bedford, MA Town Official, and Proprietor was James Fay Comley's grandfather
References
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Congressional Record, Volume 157 Issue 99 (Wednesday, July 6, 2011)
James Fay Comley listed in the Congressional Records - Wednesday, July 6, 2011 A TRIBUTE TO THE 2011 ELLIS ISLAND MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENTS Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the 2011 recipients of the coveted Ellis Island Medal of Honor. Presented annually by the National Ethnic Coalition, NECO, the Ellis Island Medal of Honor pays tribute to our Nation's immigrant heritage, as well as individual achievement.
2011
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Entrepreneur Story: James F. Comley of Embree Elevator in Business Upside Magazine
James F. Comley is an entrepreneur and owner of Embree Elevator. Comley dedicated himself to public safety in the elevator industry for over 65 years.
2021
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Virginia & James F. Comley Celebrate Honors at UMass Lowell
The couple was recently feted at UMass Lowell where Chancellor Jacqueline Moloney announced a major scholarship in their name. At the university’s Celebration of Scholarship, Chancellor Jacquie Moloney presented the first Virginia and James Comley Scholarship to Abdi Shariff-Hassan ’21, a business administration major, and recognized the Comleys as honorary UMass Lowell alumni.
2018
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Born
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Nationality
United States
Education
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1948 - 1950
Awards
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Ellis Island Medal of Honor, United States
The Ellis Island Medals of Honor are awarded annually to a group of distinguished American citizens who exemplify a life dedicated to community service and family: people who preserve and celebrate the history, traditions and values of his/her ancestry and who dedicate themselves to creating a better world. The honorees are said to exemplify outstanding qualities in both their personal and professional lives, while continuing to preserve the richness of their particular heritage. Both the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate have officially recognized the Ellis Island Medals of Honor. Each year's recipients are read into the Congressional Record.The Ellis Island Medals of Honor are awarded annually to a group of distinguished American citizens who exemplify a life dedicated to community service and family: people who preserve and celebrate the history, traditions and values of his/her ancestry and who dedicate themselves to creating a better world. The honorees are said to exemplify outstanding qualities in both their personal and professional lives, while continuing to preserve the richness of their particular heritage. Both the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate have officially recognized the Ellis Island Medals of Honor. Each year's recipients are read into the Congressional Record.
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UMass Lowell Honorary Alumni Award, United States
James F. Comley and his wife, Virginia Comley were presented with the Honorary Alumni Award in recognition of their distinguished service to industry and society, and in honor of the high esteem to which they are held at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. The couple received from UMass Lowell Chancellor, Jacqueline Moloney. They received their award while donning golden graduation caps and gowns at a Luncheon Celebration of Scholarship. A six figure endowed scholarship in their name was announced following the ceremony.James F. Comley and his wife, Virginia Comley were presented with the Honorary Alumni Award in recognition of their distinguished service to industry and society, and in honor of the high esteem to which they are held at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. The couple received from UMass Lowell Chancellor, Jacqueline Moloney. They received their award while donning golden graduation caps and gowns at a Luncheon Celebration of Scholarship. A six figure endowed scholarship in their name was announced following the ceremony.