James "Jim" Kirby

James Richard Kirby, beloved father of six, gifted pianist, honored veteran and skilled electrician, passed away on January 15, 2025, at the age of 84.

Born on June 26, 1940, in Ithaca, New York to Ruth LaFrance and Jerome Kirby (deceased), Jim was raised in a loving and joy-filled Catholic home. Jim loved music and was an amazing piano player. In another life, he would have been a musician. He could hear a song on the radio and learn to play it “by ear,” mastering both the right and the left hand of any piece of music.

From the age of 12, Jim grew to become an Ithaca Journal paperboy extraordinaire, a testament to his incredible reliability and faithfulness in everything he did. His paper route included over 150 customers, the largest route in Ithaca. When he graduated from Ithaca High School in 1958, he earned a prestigious national Gannett Newspaper scholarship.

He attended Syracuse University in 1958, joining their ROTC program. After one semester he enlisted in the United States Air Force. He trained in San Antonio, Texas, and was stationed for 2 years at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Anchorage, Alaska. He then served at the Brooklyn Naval Yard as an MP in New York City, where he was a member of the color guard, once escorting President John F. Kennedy. He received an honorable discharge in 1963.

In 1965, he became an electrician for NYSEG, where he worked for 37 years as a member of the IBEW and retired as Chief Electric Field Tester. While managing the metering department at NYSEG, Jim created a workshop manual for maintaining, monitoring and testing electrical metering equipment that is still used even today. His electrical work is the stuff of legend, and to this day, crews encountering his handywork are left in awe of his meticulous wiring and attention to detail.

In retirement, Jim was very active helping with mechanical and electrical projects at a small farm, which has been in his wife’s family since 1938. The farm was one of the five founding farms of the Ithaca Farmers Market, where for many years they sold fresh flowers, fruits and vegetables.

Jim is survived by his wife, Jeannine Wood, with whom he shared 62 years. He is also survived by his children: Anita Kirby of Groton, Keith Kirby of Groton, Linda Kirby Evans (and her husband Randy) of Naples, Florida, Marcy Kirby Avramis (and her husband George) of Lansing, J. P. Kirby (and his wife Kristina Tarczy-Hornoch) of Seattle, Washington, and Johnn Kirby of Groton; eight grandchildren: Rachel Bogardus, Kyle Bogardus, Vasili Avramis, Mia (and her husband Aaron) Zufall, James “Max” Avramis, Adam Avramis, Paul Kirby, and Jake Evans (and his wife Baylie); two great-grandchildren: James and Kennedy Evans; brother, Tom Kirby (and his wife Becky) and sister, Kathleen Kirby (and her husband Jeff Fouse); and three nieces and nephews.

He adored his grandchildren every bit as much as they adored him. They were very special to him, and he attended their musical, theater, dance and athletic events, and instilled in them his love of music.

Jim was dearly loved and will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him. He was by all accounts an exemplary husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle, soldier, and friend. Rest in peace, Jim.

St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church, Cayuga Heights, Ithaca will host calling hours at 10 AM and a celebratory mass at 11 AM on Saturday January 25th. The burial will be held the Calvary Cemetery in Ithaca following mass. A reception will be held at St. Catherine of Siena’s Reception Hall after the mass and burial.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you donate to Disabled American Veterans (www.DAV.org). Arrangements are with the Shurtleff Funeral Home, Groton, and online condolences may be shared at www.shurtleffservices.com