DUNKIRK - James
Arthur "Jim" Muck, 74, of
Washington Avenue,
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Dunkirk, formerly of
Forestville, died peacefully
in his Dunkirk home Satur-
day, Jan. 12, after waging a
year-and-a-half battle
against esophageal cancer.
He was born in Buffalo, on
April 9, 1938, the son of
the late Norman C. and
Dorothy (Gassman) Muck.
Mr. Muck moved to
Forestville as a young boy
and spent much of his life
there, graduating from
Forestville Central School
in 1955. He survived polio
as a child and was told he
would never walk again.
But he defied the odds and
fully recovered from the
disease, earning 10 varsity
letters by the time he gra-
duated from high school.
Mr. Muck excelled in
baseball, basketball, foot-
ball and track & field and
he kept his passion for
sports alive as an adult
through softball, bowling
and the occasional game of
golf. He was a member of
the Forestville & James-
town Old Timers Baseball
organizations and was
elected to the Western New
York Softball Hall of Fame
in 1991, with a lifetime
pitching record of 347
wins, including 13
no-hitters and 3 perfect
games. He played on
several teams, including
Aldrich Dairy, First Ward
Falcons, Ralston Purina
and Kosciuszko Club. Mr.
Muck also successfully
coached the Forestville
Twins Little League Team,
for which his sons Steve
and "Chip" played, to two
back to back championship
seasons.
He was an encyclopedia
of sports information and
followed many teams
throughout his life, with his
all-time favorites the Pitts-
burgh Steelers and the Tex-
as Christian University
Horned Frogs. As much as
he enjoyed professional
and college sports, and
more recently, fantasy
sports leagues, he loved
most his time on the pitch-
ing mound and could
recount details of games
played decades earlier right
up until his death.
He worked as a driver for
Dunkirk Fredonia Meals on
Wheels, Dunkirk, up until
last fall, where he enjoyed
the camaraderie of the staff
and loved visiting his
clients throughout Chau-
tauqua County, whether at
their homes or at the Forest-
ville Fire Hall. For many
years, he and his trademark
baseball cap could be seen
sitting in a certain corner of
Tim Hortons on Route 60
with his coffee club, a
select group of retirees who
solved the world's prob-
lems and discussed sports
every morning for many
years. Mr. Muck also
worked as a vehicle opera-
tor for more than 20 years
with ConRail and was a
part-time driver for the
former Tri County News for
nearly a decade.
He was an avid reader
and expert extraordinaire at
his daily crossword puzzle
and Jumbo puzzle. Mr.
Muck was a loyal friend
and a champion of the un-
derdog, willing to give the
shirt off his back or his last
dollar to friends who'd fal-
len on hard times. He'll be
remembered by his family
and friends as a champion
athlete with a big heart who
kept a low profile and did
not seek out attention. Mr.
Muck was a humble man
with a love for animals and
a generous nature, and he?ll
be deeply missed.
Survivors include two
daughters: Patti (Denny
Angelle) Muck, of Rich-
mond, Texas, and Traci
Koch, of Dunkirk; two
sons: Steve (Sandy) Muck,
of Forestville, and Nelson
"Chip" (Michelle) Muck,
of Cedar Park, Texas; a
stepdaughter, Jennifer
Salerno; a stepson, Eric
Botticello; a brother, Al
(Patty) Muck, of Silver
Creek; a sister, Sue (Gerald)
Olsen, of Forestville; a half
brother, Vern West, of Ro-
chester; the mother of his
first three children. Gerry
Bartlett of Richmond, Tex-
as; and second wife, Kathy
Berek, of Silver Creek.
Also surviving are 11
grandchildren, five great-
-grandchildren and several
nieces and nephews.
Besides his parents he
was predeceased by his
stepmother Agnes (Kings-
ley) Muck and by his wife
Mary "Debbie" (Kondolf)
Muck, who died in 2004.
Friends are welcome to
call at the Riles & Woolley
Funeral Home, 39 Main St.,
Forestville, on Tuesday
from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m.,
where Funeral Services will
be held Wednesday morn-
ing, at 11 with the Rev.
James D. Hankey, pastor of
Forestville United Metho-
dist Church, officiating.
Interment will follow in St.
Mary's Cemetery, Dunkirk.
The family suggests
memorial donations may be
made to the Dunkirk
Fredonia Meals on Wheels,
314 Central Ave., Dunkirk,
NY 14048. To post con-
dolences go to