James Frederick McElrath Sr.

James began his work life in 1957 when he accepted a job as school teacher and basketball coach at Panama Central school. He would go on to lead Panama basketball to four sectional championships in just eight seasons with an all time record of 125-30. For his accomplishments as a player and a coach he is in both the Mercer and Chautauqua County Sports Halls of Fame. He was also inducted into the Mercer High School Hall of Fame.

His teaching career continued at Washington Jr. High in the late-1960s when our family moved to the northside of Jamestown. During his early teaching career, he worked second jobs at Brown Bilt Shoe Store on Friday evenings and at Fairmount and Love School playgrounds in the summer months. James heard a higher calling during his 30s and left coaching and teaching to become a Principal. After some time at both Cassadaga Valley and Jefferson Jr. High School, James was offered the job at Jamestown High School for the 1976-77 school year where he stayed until his retirement in 1995. He was a highly regarded Principal by most students, staff and peers. He would attempt to memorize the names of the students by studying yearbooks each August before the school year would begin. He knew that relationships were the key to a healthy culture. He loved the staff at JHS and frequently ate lunch with the custodians because he valued their importance and enjoyed their company.

Though he no longer coached due to family commitments, he still valued athletics and strove to make Jamestown High School as elite athletically as it was academically. He fought to get Jamestown in the ECIC so that Jamestown could be in a NY state league and his crowning achievement was probably getting the gymnasium built that bears his name- the James F. McElrath Gymnasium- affectionately called the MAC. The gym was named for him upon his retirement 30 years ago.

In retirement James continued to serve his community as a School Board member and a City Council member. He always valued the importance of bipartisan work.

He was preceded in death by the love of his life: Marianne Hoffman McElrath who passed on September 16, 2009, his parents, his siblings: Mary Louise, Bud, Bob, Sis, Dick, and wee Elizabeth Anne McElrath, and his brother-in-law, Dr. Graham Hoffman.

He is survived by his children: James Jr (Myriam Mayshark), Karen, Michael (Maggie) and Amy. In particular, we thank Amy for leading the wonderful caregiving of our Dad since the passing of Marianne. James is also survived by Mary Evelyn Rice Hoffman (sister-in-law) and Loren Mayshark (son of Jim’s daughter-in-law).

James is survived by his three grandchildren of whom he was particularly fond: Kevin (Aarushi), Brandon (Alina) and Aoife as well as his only great-grandchild, Neel. He loved his nephews and nieces, and in particular, Tim Reznor, whose phone calls, annual visits from North Carolina, and humor were deeply loved. We thank numerous friends and former students for visiting throughout the years. Jim loved the annual visits from the Jefferson “boys” (Steve as honorary member) and we thank them. He talked about your visits for weeks. We also are grateful to Rich Pinciaro for his thoughtfulness and visits, Debbie Myers for her wonderful help and friendship that spanned over 2 decades, Linda and Don Wood for their friendship, beautiful cards, and support since the 1960s, the players on the Panama basketball teams, Bill Rollinger and Bob Herring for their long-term friendship and kindness, Cheryl Nelson for her special friendship and love for Jim and Marianne, the Thursday Bridge players for their competition and friendship – at one point, they brought the Bridge game to Jim during one of his rehab stints in Heritage Green. There are dozens of others who visited Jim over the years and our omissions here are due only to grief. Thank you from our hearts.

The Earth Angels of Hospice helped Marianne and now Jim as they passed over. We are very appreciative of the work that the Hospice Angels do for people in our County. We are lucky and blessed in their presence. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Chautauqua Hospice and Palliative Care, Chautauqua Striders (for their focus on academics and mentoring) or to the Chautauqua Sports Hall of Fame (for their understanding of the importance of sports and community).

Jim and Marianne McElrath had a 60-year friendship with members of the Lind family, thus, our great trust in them to provide funeral services. The family will have calling hours on Thursday, July 31 from 4 pm to 7 pm at the Lind Funeral Home, 805 West Third Street in Jamestown. We welcome members of the community.

Private funeral services with family will follow on Friday.

To leave words of condolence, please visit lindfuneralhome.com.