Mccormick, James E.

DELMAR-Jim McCormick, passed away peacefully a few days past his 94th birthday on 6 September 2021, surrounded by family.

James Earl McCormick was born on August 29, 1927, to Ella and Clinton McCormick and grew up in Vergennes, Vermont, enjoying the great outdoors on his extended family’s farm, where he earned the nickname “Skip”.

He attended Cathedral High School in Burlington, VT, for two years, then at 18 he joined the Merchant Marines. The story goes that he had to eat a few dozen bananas to pack on the weight needed to join. He sailed for two years then on the advice of a senior officer, returned to Cathedral to finish high school. After graduation, he sailed for 3 more years with the merchant service totaling 30 different voyages before being commissioned with the US Navy on 17 July 1953.

He married his high school sweetheart, Jeannine Gravel, on 7 November 1953, at Christ the King church in Burlington. After a short honeymoon, he reported to the USS Achenar in Norfolk, VA, and served as an Ensign, Assistant Engineering Officer, traveling the world in support of the Korean War. He was promoted to Lt Junior Grade in 1955, keeping the engines running smoothly through numerous missions.

A lifelong Catholic, he trusted God to provide, and after the birth of their son Thomas, he left the military and the family moved to Hamburg NY, where Jim took a Safety Inspector position with The Hartford Steam Boiler Insurance Company (HSB). The growing family relocated to Delmar NY in 1964 and joined St. Thomas the Apostle Roman Catholic Church.

Jim continued working for HSB serving the entire northeast region of New York, Massachusetts, and Vermont for 33 years before retiring in 1990. His congenial attitude and solution-oriented style led to numerous friends at the paper mills, churches, hospitals, schools, dry cleaners, and various manufacturing plants HSB insured.

When working with HSB, he met with his breakfast-counter gang at the 4 Corners Luncheonette and then the Delaware Plaza diner, never missing a week, to catch up with his friends on their issues and all reviewing the newspapers and headlines. At home he made a mean diner style breakfast of coffee, eggs, bacon, hash browns, cinnamon toast...the works...and loved to have breakfast guests in his later years.

Always ready to enjoy his time off of work, Jeannine and Jim would travel frequently to the Gravel family cottage on Lake Champlain in Vermont. Starr Farm was Jim’s favorite place: waterskiing, gardening and fixing things, especially engines and enjoying family time at the beach with his numerous boats over the years and pitching in with camp and beach maintenance; he was one of the problem-solvers for the Starr Farm Beach Camp Owners Association.

His love of cars was instilled by his WWI mechanic father, Clinton, and he passed it on to all his children. Jim rebuilt two 1960-era Firebird convertibles and drove them everywhere, top down, waving hello. His most recent car, a 1994 Ford Mustang convertible was on his wish list for years and he thoroughly enjoyed driving it in parades. Skip loved to drive!

He served as Scoutmaster of Troop 260 of the Delmar Reformed Church and enjoyed taking the scouts on campouts to help the boys learn and complete merit badges. One of Jim's favorite events was working with the scouts putting on the well-loved annual Spaghetti Dinner fundraiser. In the mid-1990s he worked with the Town of Bethlehem and the Boy Scouts to establish a reading of the Declaration of Independence at Town Hall each 4th of July, now an annual tradition. His patriotism ran deep with two children and their spouses serving in the military as he had. He joined The Nathaniel Adams Blanchard Post of The American Legion and enjoyed spending time with the members.

He found great joy serving God at St.Thomas’ as head usher and member of the choir. He was co-chair and lead cook for senior meals and helped organize the Christmas Holiday party featuring big band music and dancing. He also was instrumental in running the parish picnic, serving his famous clam chowder, sausage and peppers, and macaroni and cheese for many years.

He is survived by his wife of 67 years Jeannine, his son Robert, daughter-in-law Donna, granddaughter Kathryn, great-grandchildren Kaedan, Garret, and Evelyn, granddaughter Rachael, his daughter Susan and her husband James and his youngest daughter Carol and her husband TJ Cluff and grandchildren Trey, Marie and Lauren Cluff.

He is predeceased by his eldest son Thomas, who leaves behind his wife Laurie, Tom’s son Joseph, wife Leigh, and great-grandchildren Corina and Lily and Tom’s daughter, Jim’s granddaughter, Jamie.

Jim also leaves behind many cherished nieces and nephews and long-time friends. Jim's furry companion Mookie, who has been by Jim’s side for 9 years, will now reside with Carol.

May he rest in God’s eternal peace.

Visitation will be held at Daniel Keenan Funeral Home 490 Delaware Ave, Albany NY 12209 on Friday 17 September from 4-7 pm. His funeral Massmass will be at 1 pm Saturday September18th at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, 35 Adams Place, Delmar, NY, 12054. Masks are required at church. Burial will beat Bethlehem Cemetery following. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Thomas the Apostle School, 42 Adams Place, Delmar NY or to The Nathaniel Adams Blanchard Post of The American Legion, 16 West Poplar Drive, Delmar, NY 12054.