James Jolliff

1932 - 2022

Captain James V. Jolliff, USN (Retired) was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on June 14, 1932. He attended Valley Forge Military Academy (1948-1950) and entered the U. S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland in 1950 on an Honor School Appointment. Graduated and commissioned as an Ensign on June 4, 1954, he subsequently advanced in rank to that of Captain on May 1, 1975. He completed active naval service on December 31st, 1981. Following graduation. from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1954 he joined the USS SAMUEL N. MOORE (DD 747). While serving as Chief Engineer in USS MOORE, he participated in three deployments to the 7th Fleet with sustained operations off Korea and Taiwan. Later he served aboard the USS Cimarron (AO 22). He reported in August 1958 to Long Beach Naval Shipyard where he served as Ship Superintendent for Destroyers. He was selected for graduate study in May 1959 and he began post graduate instruction at the Webb Institute of Naval Architecture, from which he received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Marine Engineering and a Master of Science Degree in Naval Architecture in July 1962. From June 1966 to July 1969, he was an instructor and Associate Chairman of the Naval Engineering Division, Engineering Department, U. S. Naval Academy. Ordered to the Catholic University of America on a CNO Fellowship in August 1969, he graduated with a Doctorate in Ocean Engineering in July 1972. From there he served as a Ship Design Manager for several modular ship conceptual designs. In June 1976, he became Commander, Naval Coastal Systems Center, Panama City, Florida. From September 1979 to1981, he was Director, Electrical Systems Group, Naval Sea Systems Command. He co-authored "The Naval Engineers Guide" and authored over twenty published technical naval engineering articles in the Naval Engineers Journal. Following his retirement in December 1981, he began a second career and returned to his love of rocks, minerals, and gemstones. He graduated from the Gemological Institute of America and later earned diplomas from England and Canada as well as additional certifications. He opened JEI Gemological Laboratory in 1981 and served as Executive Director of the National Association of Jewelry Appraisers from 1994 to 2004. He is survived by his devoted wife of 64 years, Ardythe Jolliff of Edgewater Maryland, daughter Katherine Ewing (husband Raymond) of Arnold Maryland, son Robert Jolliff of Edgewater Maryland and three grandchildren. He has been active in either PCA or Lutheran churches for the past 61 years and knows the Lord will never leave him or desert him. Friends are invited to celebrate James' life at the Kalas Funeral Home & Crematory, 2973 Solomons Island Rd., Edgewater, MD on Tuesday, January 11 from 12 pm until his funeral service begins at 1 pm. Interment will be held at Lakemont Memorial Gardens in Davidsonville, Maryland. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Hospice of the Chesapeake, 90 Ritchie Highway, Pasadena, MD 21122. Condolences may be made at: KalasFuneralHomes.com