Born in Newark, New Jersey, Irenas received an Artium Baccalaureus degree from Princeton University in 1962 and a Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School in 1965, where he graduated cum laude.
He assumed senior status on July 1, 2002 due to a certified disability.
[2][3] In or around 2000, Irenas was diagnosed with kidney failure, but continued to hear cases up until his death.
[4] On October 14, 2015, Irenas fell and hit his head during work at the Mitchell H. Cohen United States Courthouse in Camden, New Jersey.
[4] He was taken to Camden's Cooper University Hospital, where he died on October 16, at the age of 75.