James (Jim) Taft, 79, of Ontario, NY passed on July 17, 2020.
Predeceased by his parents Julian (Jake) and Gertrude (Gert) Taft
Loved and survived by his wife and high school sweetheart, Linda (Burlingame) of nearly 56 years. Daughter – Lori (Mark) Pulvino, Grandchildren – Alex (Courtney) Pulvino & Rachel Pulvino. Son – Jim Taft Jr. Brother-in-law Ron (Pam) Burlingame. Sister – Pat (Claude) Coe. Several nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews.
Graduate of Mohawk Valley Technical Institute. Former member of the Army Reserves
Retired from Eastman Kodak after 30 years, then worked at Wegmans Holt Rd in the seafood department when restlessness set in.
Jim always gave 110%. Fishing, hunting and bowling were favorite hobbies of his. He was a speed reader and must have read every adventure novel the Webster Public Library had to offer. To keep busy, Jim sewed and donated over 1300 walker bags for area nursing home residents. When the pandemic struck, he switched to making masks for those in need. He was always there to give a helping hand to family, friends and neighbors. Excess land he had was turned into a dog park for neighborhood dogs to enjoy. Jim had a knack for engineering unique solutions to challenging problems. Many, many years of fun and sun were enjoyed on Crescent Beach, Sodus Bay at the family cottage.
A Celebration of Life will be held at a future date.
Expressions of remembrance can be made through the Wayne County Humane Society in Jim’s name.
A kind and gentle man. We are blessed to be Jim and Lin’s neighbor on one side and Jimmy on the other. God’s plans are perfect and He will carry you through this valley, and those left behind will find comfort in Him. Love and heartfelt sympathy to the entire Taft family.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you all ❤️
I am literally in shock! I did not see this coming at all and I am heartbroken, for Linda and Lori and Jim and all the family but also for me. My neighbors growing up who saw us go through all of our phases, good and bad. Came to our weddings, saw us have babies! Always there to help and always there to have fun! Can you say “streak?”. Everybody has now lost one amazing person who left a huge impression. I guess the Lord needed him more than we did. God Speed dear Jim. Give some hugs out for us. Prayers to the family as you try to heal your heartache. I am here if you need an ear or a shoulder. Love to all of you, always.
Paula and Brian Luke and Family
We’re very sorry for your loss. We are in total shock. Sending love and prayers to all of you.🙏
Jim was such a wonderful man no matter what was going on. He always had a smile on his face. He enjoyed life to the fullest! He loved his hobbies and never gave up! Always wanted to do better! He was a neighbor and a league bowler of mine. He will never be forgotten. Lin you and your family are in our thoughts and prayers.
A great man, a great mentor, and a great friend. My heart goes out to all of you. Bless you all.
Linda and Family
Although it seems that way
Your really not alone today
For other hearts feel sorrow too
And search for words to comfort you
Linda and Jimmy, you were a part of Joe’s life many years before I arrived on the scene, and Jim was like another Dad to him.. I was spared no rest in stories from the neighborhood, to the point when I finally met you, I felt like I too had grown up on Haley Rd. You have embraced all of us, in our loses and growths as family, in laughter, tears, and adventures. Jim is now watching from above just as he did when, trimming trees or hunting deer. We will continue to embrace and cherish our times and adventures together, because there are many more to be had. And I am sure that there are now three men laughing at our “wrong” ways of doing things, while casting their fishing poles and shaking their heads..He who is loved is never gone, but forever within our hearts, minds and thoughts..
Sending you all love
Joe and Amy Heiden
My dearest Taft family, my second family as a youngster on Haley Road. The house I ran away to, even though it was in my front yard. The phone number I can still recite to this day. The many weekends at the cottage and that ginormous fish that broke the pole! I have so many fond memories that I will treasure. My heart breaks for you all. You are at the top of my list for prayers and healing. What a wonderful life Jim had with you all by his side. With deepest sympathies and so much love, Cindy Stanley (aka Hanlon)
To my cousin Linda and family
Our heart is sadden to hear the passing of Jim. No words
Can express how we feel. Prayers 🙏 for all of you.
Love to you and much love to Lori and Jim.
Susan & Henry Mikus
To the Taft family and friends,
We have heavy hearts to hear of Mr. Tafts passing. So pleasant and kind always! Will surely be missed with found memories. We must live for today and just be hopeful for the future. R.I.P. Mr. Taft 🙏🏼
With much sympathy, Janice and Massimo
Our thoughts go out to Linda,Jim and our family. We spent many celebrations & our trips to Sodus, Jim was a great man he will be missed by everyone. Tony & Bev
I am so sorry for your loss, Linda. May you know God’s love&comfort during this most difficult time.
Dear Linda, Lori and Jimmy, I am so very sorry for this abrupt and painful loss. Jim was the kindest dad on Haley Road, ever so patient with us kids running in and out of the house and cottage, fixing things as we broke them without the scolding one (I) might have expected. I remember seeing him happily walking through the fields with the dog, or setting up his stand in the Back hedgerows, and contentedly fishing on Lake Ontario. Others have expressed it better than I, but he was a truly good soul walking the earth I send my love to you all. I wish I could do more.
Dear Linda….so sorry for your loss. Just read Jim’s obituary and did not know his sister was married to Claude Coe who I know quite well…was a farmer and a neighbor to me when I was a kid. I will keep you in my prayers
Linda, I have bowled with you and Jim for years at Empire Lanes in Webster. Both of you have always been so kind with words of encouragement and laughter. Jim was very competitive and recently bowling the best I can remember. His team finished this season in first place.
I’m so sorry to learn of Jim’s sudden passing. My sincere condolences to you and your family.
I only just today heard about Jim’s passing. I had the pleasure of working with Jim for several years back at Kodak, in the later 80’s and early 90’s. I remember Jim as a man of boundless energy, sometimes I almost felt the need to run to try and keep up with him! My other memory of those days is that Jim was always sporting a smile. No matter the situation, or how badly things were going wrong, Jim would never “lose his cool” and he never took part in the “finger pointing” that was, at that time, starting to become a standard way of doing business. I don’t think I have seen Jim in more than 25 years at this point, but I will always remember his constant smile, his integrity and great sense of humor. The world has truly lost a great man…