James E. Kozlowski

Jim Kozlowski, the original Wizard of Clay, died January 7, 2025, in Hospicare in Ithaca. James Edwin Kozlowski was born in Buffalo in 1944. He graduated from John F. Kennedy High School in Buffalo in 1962 and attended State University College at Buffalo, graduating with a B.S. in art education in 1965. He earned his master's degree in the same field at the same college in 1968. From 1965 to 1977, Jim taught art to junior and senior high school students in Greece. During his tenure as a teacher, he guided his students through the basics of pottery production, from building kilns to wheel throwing to creating glazes from chemicals. Before he left teaching, Jim began making pottery in his basement in Greece. He soon realized his work needed an appropriate space, so he and his wife, Lois, explored various possibilities and decided to move their family to a rural area where they could create a work space and shop for the pottery business that Jim had envisioned. Settling on a property in Bristol, Ontario County, Jim called upon his college exposure to the concept of geodesic domes and decided that he and his wife could build domes to house a studio and retail space. They built practice domes on their kitchen table, using Tinker Toys to figure out the angles and construction techniques they would need to use. It took Jim six months in the summer of 1979 - working mostly by himself - to construct a complex of four domes and move his kilns into place so he could begin work in his new space. Wizard of Clay Pottery started production that fall. While he was growing his business, Jim became an active part of the civic community in Honeoye. He was elected to a seat on the school board, served as president of the Honeoye Chamber of Commerce, joined the Rotary Club, and contributed his time and other resources to a number of charities and local organizations. Rotary Camp Honeoye was a favored recipient of his largesse. In 2014, Jim retired and left the business in the hands of his son, Jamie, who had learned to make pottery at his father's side. Jim and Lois moved to their retirement home in the town of Ulysses, Tompkins County, where Jim had a home studio that gave him space to return to his original love of drawing and painting. He created works that were featured in art shows in Ithaca and Trumansburg. Jim was a kind, energetic and thoughtful man with a great sense of humor and deep love for his family and his community. He created literally thousands of pieces of pottery and art that are in daily use in households all over the world. In addition, he was an accomplished photographer who enjoyed traveling with his wife to exotic locations. In addition to his wife, the former Lois Shuster, Jim is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, James Edwin Kozlowski II and Pegge Northrup; daughter and son-in-law Kathryn (Kasia) Maroney and Eric Maroney; three grandchildren, Carver Kozlowski, Samuel Maroney and Ariel Maroney; one brother, Ronald Kozlowski; several cousins. A funeral mass and celebration of Jim's life will be announced in the spring. Memorial contributions may be directed to Hospicare & Palliative Care Services at 172 E. King Road, Ithaca NY 14850. Online condolences may be left at hersonwagnerfuneralhome.com To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of James, please visit our floral store.