James Joseph Guyette Sr.

Ticonderoga. James Joseph Guyette Sr was born on January 1st, 1937, to Patricia (Staunches) and Francis Guyette in a house in Port Henry, New York about 100 yards from Lake Champlain. He passed into the next life on January 29, 2023, at Porter Hospital in Middlebury VT surrounded by his wife, his boys and family. He was 86 years old.
As a young man, he attended Champlain Academy Catholic School in Port Henry (that was positioned at the bottom of Convent Hill). This is where a group of Catholic nuns "saved him", as he would tell it. The nuns educated him and put him on a wonderful path in life.
Jim learned the value of a strong work ethic while working for Izzy Kobel on local farms throughout his youth starting at the age of 12. Luckily, or unluckily, labor laws were yet to be established in 1949. At any rate, this was where Jim started to build the strength that would pave the way to a successful football campaign.
He went to Port Henry High School where he excelled at football, basketball and baseball. Jim's grades began to excel as well, and he parlayed what the nuns had taught him into a letter of acceptance into the University of Vermont. There, he graduated with a bachelor's degree in Geology in 1962.
He played football at UVM and was named to the All Vermont Team in 1960. UVM discontinued their football team in 1974. The optimist in Jim would jokingly tell you "undefeated since 1974". Go Catamounts!
After graduation, Jim served in the National Guard for 6 years. During this military stint, Jim had a decision to make about the direction of his life. He decided against a trek to Alaska to study his scholastic passion of Geology and turned down invitations to try out for the NFL's Houston Oilers and the CFL's Montreal Alouettes, instead anchoring himself in Ticonderoga to build a proper foundation for his family and raise children. He married a wonderful woman, Sara, in 1962 and shared the next 60 years raising 4 sons while being very involved in the town and community. This is also where Mr./Coach Guyette would embark upon his newfound passion for teaching and coaching.
Jim joined the Moriah School system in 1963. Moriah's new mad scientist and coach quickly became a student and player favorite - teaching Chemistry and Physics, and coaching Moriah's offensive unit alongside long time coaching partner and fishing buddy, Joe Gilbo.
He taught chemistry and physics in Moriah and tutored countless Ticonderoga kids, making sure these scattered brains were prepared for passing the New York State Science Regents Tests. He left such a positive impact on his students that he had High School yearbooks dedicated to him, and university valedictorians' speeches crediting him as the inspiration to their success. And for the record, Jim taught and coached current Moriah Vikings' head coach Don Tesar and he tutored Moriah's current defensive coach, Chris Lobdell, both of whom, are close family friends.
Jim retired after 30 years of teaching, but he kept tutoring kids, and started helping - or pestering, the jury is still out - good friend, Jay Fortino, and his crew at the local Ticonderoga Sunoco.
In addition to teaching, coaching, mentoring and correcting people, his passions in life were fishing, sports, golfing (with partner Tom Karkoski), darts and spending time with family and friends.
Jim loved sports, especially football. Through the years, Jim was a staunch supporter of local sporting events. He became part of a tight crew (with Carl Bevilacqua, Gene Lobdell and Bob Dedrick) that religiously traveled to watch the kids from Moriah and Ticonderoga play football and basketball.
Jim was a devoted family man - always taking his sons on his adventures whether it was fishing, golfing or a random summer job like setting a fence, fixing an appliance or taking down a tree. Luckily, or unluckily, child labor laws didn't apply to family.
He was an incredibly dedicated grandfather who drove 100 miles to Albany every week for 17 years to babysit 4 of his grandchildren. The grandchildren, now adults, will forever remember those special days with grandpa and his famous Tuesday pancakes. The trick, he admitted, is extra butter.
And Jim loved his wife. His wonderful and extraordinary, Saint Sara. Sara was certainly the most impactful human in Jim's life and the person who made Jim the man he was.
He also enjoyed interacting with strangers and was always quick to help those around him. He was a lovable grizzly bear, who was intimidating at first glance, but enchanting with his sage-like advice and quick humor. He was surely adored by all those who knew him.
For over 40 years, when school was in session, a gathering of Ti and Moriah comrades would meet weekly on Thursday evening for a serious (or not so serious) dart league competition in the Guyette basement. The shenanigans would begin about 8pm and could extend into the early morning hours. Those who dared attend (and weren't banned by their wives), surely have special memories of this unique male bonding experience well worth the penalty of an exhausting Friday at work.
And we would be remiss if we did not elaborate on Jim's fishing life. He started fishing with his father, Francis Guyette, and Huckleberry Gilbo at 3 years old and spent countless winters navigating the cracks of Lake Champlain's winter ice, setting up the famous 4 Shanty Towns of Port Henry - East Channel, West Channel, the Hole and Bryantsville. For some good entertainment, follow these links about ice fishing on ESPN and on Lunkerville, starring none other than Jim Guyette:
https://www.espn.com/outdoors/fishing/news/story?id=2789558
https://www.facebook.com/lunkerville/videos/10155279683342653/
His memory will be cherished by the people he leaves behind, especially his loving wife Sara (Supry - married in 1962), his sons and their families: James Jr, Scott (wife Joy), Matthew (wife Kristina), and Greg (wife Christina). He had 7 grandchildren: Justin, Alex, Michael, Sarah, Gage and Race Guyette and Hayden Thompson, each of whom he was extremely proud. He was preceded in death by his sister, Jean Mazzotte and stepfather Morris Manley, and survived by his younger sister, Patricia Blaise (husband Robert) and brother-in-law Bruno Mazzotte, as well as several nieces and nephews.
No one can be sure what it means to live a great life. But in 1937, Jim Guyette started life in less than favorable surroundings and evolved into a great person - he was a great husband to his wife, he was a great father to his children, and he was a great friend to all who knew him. He was Jim Guyette. Thank you, Jim, for all you did for us. You will be remembered.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to the newly created James Guyette Science Scholarship at Moriah Central School (39 Viking Lane, Port Henry, NY 12974) or donate to the James Guyette Fund at St Mary's School in Ticonderoga.
Thanks to the Staff at Porter Medical Center in Middlebury, VT for caring for Jim. His final days of care were phenomenal. For those of you thinking about where to spend your final days, Porter Medical Center comes highly recommended. Thank you, Hannah and Kelsey - you are delightful people.
Calling hours will be at Wilcox and Regan funeral home Friday, Feb 3, 2023, from 4-8 p.m., and the funeral will be at St. Mary's Catholic Church Saturday, February 4th at 11:00 a.m. The Rev. Christopher J. Looby, Pastor, will officiate. Lunch will be served at the Knights of Columbus after Mass.
The Rite of Committal will take place at the family plot of St. Mary's Parish Cemetery of Ticonderoga in the Spring.
To offer online condolences, please visit www.wilcoxandreganfuneralhome.com