James Francis Garnsey

ILION - James Francis Garnsey, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and uncle, passed away peacefully at the age of 92, on Friday, June 23, 2023, in the loving presence of his family, at The Grand Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, in Ilion, New York after a brief illness.

He was born in Utica on May 6, 1931, the son of Anna Murphy and Silas J. Garnsey. Jim (known affectionately to friends and family as “Mort,” a childhood nickname that stuck with him throughout his life) received his education in Utica and Ilion public schools, graduating from Ilion High School in 1949, where he was elected President of his senior class, beginning a lifetime of political involvement. Jim was an accomplished athlete and lettered in football, basketball and baseball.

After graduating, Jim enlisted in the United States Navy and proudly served his country from 1949 to 1953. During his naval service, which occurred during the Korean War, he was stationed on the island of Guam in the Pacific where he serviced helicopters as a radio repairman. His time in Guam was an experience that he never forgot, and it fueled a lifelong interest in the history of the Navy in the Pacific War of 1941-45, a subject on which he amassed an impressive library.

After he was honorably discharged from the service, Jim returned to Ilion and was married to Dorothy Loopman on September 20, 1952 at the Church of the Annunciation, beginning a loving union of more than 70 years. At that time he began working for New York Telephone Company as an installer/repairman, retiring in 1989 after 37 years of climbing poles and fixing phones.

While working full-time and raising a family of five, Jim coached Little League baseball, and was especially proud of having coached future Major League player and fellow Ilion resident Charles “Boots” Day. He also became heavily involved in local politics with the Democratic Party. An early run for village office ended in defeat. Later, he was elected mayor of the Village of Ilion and went on to serve as mayor for the next ten years, having been re-elected four consecutive times as a Democrat despite a nearly 2 to 1 Republican advantage in enrollment. Among his many accomplishments as mayor was the implementation of the Urban Renewal program that had been initiated under his predecessor, and which revitalized and changed Ilion forever.

Jim’s commitment to his community continued long into his retirement. He spent many hours serving on the boards of the Herkimer County ARC, the Ilion Public Library, the Board of Trustees of Herkimer County Community College, and the Little Falls Hospital Board of Trustees. He continued to work tirelessly with the Village of Ilion Democratic Committee to elect local candidates. His service to the Democratic Party in the Village of Ilion and in Herkimer County included the memorable occasion of driving Bobby Kennedy to a local campaign event. Jim also ran for the New York State Assembly in 1978 with the support and encouragement of the late Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, with whom he appeared at a joint campaign press conference, an experience that he treasured and never forgot.

In addition to public service, Jim loved woodworking, reading, golfing or just sitting on the back porch talking to everyone who passed by. He and his wife Dorothy also loved to travel and enjoyed many overseas trips with the Herkimer County Community College travel program, visiting Spain, Italy, the Czech Republic, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, and Australia and taking cruises to the Caribbean, Mexico and Nova Scotia. Their trips to see their son Tom in Montana, daughter Sue in Vermont, and Jim’s good friend Robert Luther in Arizona were annual events.

Jim is survived by his wife, Dorothy Garnsey of Ilion; his daughter, Margaret Burger and son-in-law Eric Burger of Ilion; his daughter, Susan Hillyard and son-in-law, Richard Hillyard, of Burlington, Vermont; his son, Thomas Garnsey and daughter-in-law Bridget Garnsey, of Bozeman, Montana; his son, Robert Garnsey, of Astoria, New York; his daughter-in-law, Georgeanne Garnsey, of Frankfort; and his brother-in-law, Donald Loopman, of Victor, New York. Also surviving are his beloved grandchildren: Courtney(Paul) Valasek, of Herkimer, Shannon (Phil)Buttacaroli, of Ilion, Heather (Steve)Maley, of Frankfort, Eric (Alison)Burger, of Ilion, Jeffrey(Erica) Burger, of Ilion, Kate (Dan)Phillips, of Burlington, Vermont, Michael (Haleigh) Hillyard, of Brooklyn, New York, Chad Garnsey, of Ilion, Camille (Carson) Garnsey, of Providence, Rhode Island, and AL Garnsey and Ryan Garnsey, of Bozeman, Montana. He is also survived by his beloved great-grandchildren: David Valasek, Jenna, Olivia and Anthony Buttacaroli, Avery and Riley Maley, Madison, Ireland, and Eric Burger, and Campbell, Noah and Benjamin Burger; and by many nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews whom he cherished.

Jim’s home caregivers, Deb, Millie, Gina, and Georgeanne, loved him dearly and he loved them right back. They made his life comfortable and enjoyable. He eagerly awaited their visits.

Jim was predeceased by his parents; his sister, Ann Noffer and brother-in-law, Leslie Noffer; his brother, Silas Garnsey and sister-in-law, Eleanor Garnsey; his sister-in-law, Patricia Loopman; his beloved son, James Kevin Garnsey; and his grandsons, Evan Garnsey and Nicholas Garnsey.

The family extends its gratitude to the staff of The Grand Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Ilion for their care and loving attention over the last two weeks. We also would like to thank Jim’s many friends and neighbors who have looked after him and spent so much time with him over the later years of his life. Your kindness and attention and caring is very much appreciated by all of us.

Family and friends are invited to attend calling hours on Wednesday, June 28, 2023, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., at the Enea & Ciaccia family Funeral Home, at 4309 Acme Road, in Ilion. A Memorial Service will be held on Thursday, June 29, 2023, at 9:45 a.m., at the chapel in the Enea & Ciaccia Family Funeral Home with prayer and a brief Military Ceremony. The funeral will commence at the Church of the Annunciation in Ilion, at 10:30 a.m., on Thursday, June 29, 2023, where a Mass of Christian Burial will be presided over by the Reverend Paul Catena. Interment will be at a later date.

Anyone wishing to share a memory of Jim, or add to his online memorial, may go to www.eneafamily.com

Those wishing to do so may consider a memorial donation to the Ilion Free Public Library Foundation, 78 West St., Ilion, NY 13357. Envelopes for this purpose will be available at the funeral home.

Jim’s funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Enea, Ciaccia & Applegate Funeral Directors.