GREENE _ Jim Root, 58, formerly of Oxford, passed away Wednesday, May 23, 2012, in his home in Greene, with his family.
Jim was the ultimate teacher, both in his life and his death. He was a well respected teacher at Sidney High School, professor at Oneonta State University, and baseball coach for over a decade.
He was the most gracious partner to his loving fiancee, father to his children, brother to his siblings, and son to his parents.
He was predeceased by father, James Root; brother, Craig Root; and paternal and maternal grandparents.
He is survived by fiancee, Adrienne Dooher, and her children, Melissa (Matt) and George (Lauren); mother, Elizabeth; son, James (Justyna) and their son, James; son, Michael (Faryn); daughter, Kristina (Shawn); brother, Russell (Melody), and their daughter, Mackenzie; sister, Susan (Scott) Rice, and their boys, Brian and Tyler; sister, Robin; and many other extended family and friends.
Jim loved the Yankees and would rarely miss a game or an opportunity to watch them. He also enjoyed literary works of all genres, including Robert Frost and Clive Cussler. Jim always encouraged those around him “not to sweat the small stuff,” and lived one day at a time with patience, dignity, and a gentleness extended to both the people he knew as well as to those he did not.
In the 1970s and 1980s Jim coached Little League Baseball and his teams had a flare for celebrating home runs by singing “Come Mister Tallyman, tally me bananas. Daylight come and me wanna go home.” Jim loved to quote movies and song lyrics, and would smile when we would remind him “You’re not a songwriter Jim, you’re a poet.” Jim touched the lives of thousands of people. He often took the road less traveled, and that made all the difference.
A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at Zion Episcopal Church, Greene.
Friends of the family may call from 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday at Root Funeral Home, 23 North Chenango St., Greene, NY 13778.
In lieu of flowers, the family will be creating a scholarship in memory of Jim. Donations may be made to Dollars for Scholars, c/o Sidney Federal Credit Union, 42 Union St., Sidney, NY 13838. Please include Jim Root’s name in the memo line of the check.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.rootfh.com.
Obituaries
James Russell Root
- Obituaries
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Robert J. Kopecek
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Helen M. Adamski
DAVENPORT -- Helen M. Adamski, 80, passed away Feb. 2, 2013, in Florida.
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Leslie Eugene Crawford
WEST LAURENS -- Leslie Eugene Crawford, 90, of West Laurens, passed away on Friday, June 14, 2013, at A.O. Fox Memorial Hospital in Oneonta.
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Joan T. Mileski
ONEONTA -- Joan T. Mileski, 74, died June 14, 2013, peacefully at home surrounded by her family.
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Zelma R. Ainslie
COOPERSTOWN -- Zelma R. Ainslie, 87, of Oneonta, passed away on Thursday, June 13, 2013, at Otsego Manor in Cooperstown.
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Charlene E. Frear
MASONVILLE -- Charlene E. Frear, 70, of Masonville, passed away peacefully on Thursday afternoon, June 13, 2013, at Norwich Rehab and Nursing Center, surrounded by her loving family.
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William Edward Lange 'Bill'
CHERRY VALLEY -- William Edward Lange "Bill," born Sept. 13, 1934, passed away May 30, 2013, at his home in Cherry Valley, in the presence of his family.
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Penny Ostrander
UNADILLA -- Penny Anne Ostrander, 62, of Unadilla, passed away Thursday, June 13, 2013, at her home.
- Friday, June 14, 2013
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Hana Rauscher
COOPERSTOWN -- Hana Rauscher, a resident of the Village of Cooperstown, died Wednesday morning, June 12, 2013, at Alpine Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Little Falls. She was 97.
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Sue Pierson
RICHFIELD SPRINGS -- Sue Pierson, 91, of County Highway No. 22, passed away peacefully on Wednesday morning, June 12, 2013, in Bassett Healthcare, Cooperstown.
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Andrew M. Torre
ROXBURY -- Andrew M. Torre, 96, resident of Roxbury, died at his home Wednesday, June 12, 2013.
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Carolyn Ann (Allen) Combes
ONEONTA -- Carolyn Ann (Allen) Combes, 70, passed away June 10, 2013, after a courageous battle with cancer, surrounded by her son and daughter-in-law.
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Chilton Bradley Latham
ALBANY -- A devoted father of Caitlin and Alex Latham and husband to Julie Signitzer, Chilton Latham was a modern Renaissance man fascinated with the nuances of the English language, music, cooking, gardening and nature.
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Eleanor H. Reynolds
COOPERSTOWN -- Eleanor H. Reynolds, 93, a lifelong resident of the Cooperstown area died Wednesday morning, June 12, 2013, at Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown.
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Zelma M. Ainslie
ONEONTA -- Zelma M. Ainslie, 87, passed away Thursday, June 13, 2013, at Otsego Manor.
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Gary Wayne Winters
JOHNSON CITY -- Gary Wayne Winters, 72, a 1958 graduate of J.C.H.S., died on June 8, 2013, after a lengthy illness. He had been in the loving care and concern of the staff on South Tower Four at U.H.S. Wilson, Lourdes Hospice, family and friends.
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Edward J. Ryan Jr.
TROY -- The Rev. Edward J. Ryan Jr., 92, of Troy, passed into eternal rest on Wednesday morning, June 12, 2013, at the Teresian House in Albany.
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Robert L. Dyer
UNADILLA -- Robert L. Dyer, 80, of Unadilla, passed away Tuesday, June 11, 2013, at the home of his sister-in-law, Marjorie Harris.
- Thursday, June 13, 2013
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Ruth Boorn Roberts
SCHENEVUS -- There will be a memorial service for Ruth Boorn Roberts at 3 p.m. Sunday, June 16, 2013, at the First United Methodist Church in Brewster. Also, at 4 p.m. Monday, June 17, there will be a graveside service in the Schenevus Cemetery on Main Street in Schenevus.
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Earl Edward Deubler Jr.
ROCHESTER -- Dr. Earl Edward Deubler Jr., 86, died peacefully on June 3, 2013, at Highland Hospital in Rochester, surrounded by his loving family.
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Robert J. Kopecek



