Caledonia: Dollard, James Frederick Sr. went peacefully to the next stage of life on Wednesday, January 20, 2016. In the last months and weeks of his life Jim consistently expressed two earnest wishes - to be reunited with his wife, Annie, and to remain in his home. Wishes granted…
How to sum up the life of someone whose legacy is not the result of great wealth or fame but rather one of good deeds, service to others and modeling how to be a father, uncle, brother, grandparent, friend and co-worker for others? Because the adage, “actions speak louder than words,” remains so valid, Jim’s legacy will be seen in the many folks he influenced and inspired that follow his example and do good work in the world.

Born in Albany, Jim was the youngest of four children (Joan, William, Alice) born to William and Alice (Mitchell) Dollard. He was a proud graduate of Vincentian Institute who went on to study at Mount St. Mary’s University (MD). After serving a stint in the Army (stationed in Germany), Jim returned to Albany to complete his graduate studies and begin a career in teaching and school administration. His work with students and teachers was a constant source of joy and meaning for Jim. He believed in the transformative possibilities of a good education and he was determined to see everyone do their best.

Jim, Anne and their six children moved to Caledonia in 1971. If home is where each family’s story begins, Caledonia proved to be a great hometown for this family’s progress in the world. Shortly after the move to Caledonia Jim was hired to be a principal in the Honeoye Falls-Lima school district. A mutual admiration ensued and for the next XX years the HFL community and Jim brought out the very best in one another. Jim’s time in HFL was marked by great school spirit, celebrations of student talents and achievements, pursuit of common, student-centered goals by a dedicated faculty and staff and the support of a grateful community.

Prior to HFL Jim had worked in the Greece school district and he always maintained that any success he had in HFL was the result of valuable lessons he learned from great leaders in the Greece schools of the 1960s like Paul Fauth, Lou Basile, George Baird and many others. By the time Jim was retiring from HFL he made enough of an impression on the folks there that they named their stadium for him and inducted him into their school’s Hall of Fame. This was high praise that left him humbled.

But certainly someone so steeped in humility and committed to doing for others had some things he had to do for himself. No joke was ever told without an Irish brogue. A bakery was always a welcome sight and would be judged by the frosted jelly doughnut. There was no such thing as a bad day of boating. Camping on the verdant islands of Lake George was always a bit of heaven on Earth. No one ever conducted college fight songs while driving with more gusto and flair. Rule #1: anything that can be said can be sung…and if it’s an Irish tune like The Parting Glass or Fields of Atherny all the better. Having one’s hands in garden soil and later enjoying the harvest is good for body, mind and soul. A van without bags of bulk candy from Wegman’s is a sad place indeed. There are few gifts better than limericks and/or poems created to honor a special someone. Donald Duck imparts smiles and wisdom in equal measure. These would be but a few of the things this generous man did for himself, which always brought so much joy to others.
Jim and Anne’s six kids - Bill (Lynn) of Albany, James, Jr (Ronda) of New Port Richie, FL, Michael (Betsy) of Albany, Kristin Sturiale (Steve) of Baltimore, MD, Matthew (Laurie) of Caledonia and Mark (Terrie) of Telluride, CO - take great comfort in the belief that their parents have been reunited in this next stage of life. Jim always took so much joy from his 19 grandchildren - Packy, Moira, Liam, Michelle, Jessica, Melissa, Ellen, Jack, Elizabeth, Zachary, Christopher, Nicholas, Sean, Rachael, Matthew, Eric, Christopher and Dominick - and he was so proud of their daily triumphs. The consensus of the youngsters in this tribe would be that Jim was a great Grampa!

The love that Jim enjoyed with Anne brought grace and joy and inspiration to everyone in this large family and a very wide circle of friends. That same love provided Jim with the confidence and fortitude to make a difference for thousands of students and school staff over a long career in public education. Their love was something that nearly anyone who saw them together knew to be rare and so very precious. And now they are together again…

The family is so very grateful to the group of caregivers who kept Jim safe and comfortable in his home. He was in the presence of angels. Thank you! God is Good…

Friends may call Friday, January 29, 2016 from 2-4 and 7-9 P.M. at St. Columba Church, 198 North Street, Caledonia. His funeral Mass will be held Saturday, 10 A.M. at St. Columba Church. Interment St. Columba Cemetery. In lieu of flowers the family would ask that donations be made in the name of James F. Dollard, Sr. to either Patrick Place, 99 Main Street, P.O. Box 73, Scottsville, NY 14546 (http://www.patrickplace.org) or Livingston County Catholic Charities, 34 E. Main Street, Mt. Morris, NY 14510 (http://www.aboutcclc.org).

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