Jim was born in Wellsville, NY on March 20, 1963. He passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on Thursday, October 20, 2022, at the age of 59. He battled prostate cancer for the past 3 years with the same effort and determination he put into everything he accomplished in his shortened but full life.
Jim is a 1981 graduate of Wellsville High School where he met his wife, Wendy (Talbett) Stevens. He went on to graduate in 1984 from the State University of New York at Buffalo (UB) with a BS degree in Medical Technology. After graduation, Jim worked at Oswego Hospital for a year. In 1986 he moved to Fairport to work at Rochester General Hospital for several years. He then went on to a career in various roles with Ortho Clinical Diagnostics that spanned more than 30 years. He retired from there in October of 2020.
Jim was constantly moving and active. He did everything from swimming, skiing, hunting, windsurfing, mountain biking, running, playing hockey, road cycling including century bike rides such as the Highlander and Gran Fondo, and charity rides such as the Tour de Cure, as well as training and participating in triathlons including several Ironmans. He avidly followed the Buffalo Bills and Sabres.
Jim was devoted to his family and enjoyed camping, coaching youth sports, traveling, grilling and checking out craft breweries. He was always the life of the party.
Jim is predeceased by his older brother Jay, nephew Mikey, and father-in-law Wesley Talbett. Jim knew he was loved and appreciated by many and will be greatly missed by his survivors: wife of 34 years, Wendy; sons James (Lindsey) and Thomas (Jessica); grandson Owen; his parents James and Nancy; sisters Amy (Ros) Gowdy and Janice Stevens (Greg Ashworth); Mother-in-law Sally Talbett; sisters-in-law Margie Brown, Kristi (Pete) Hamann, Kathy Bennett, and Jennifer (Scott) McClelland; many cousins, nieces and nephews; as well as many friends and coworkers.
The family would like to express their sincere thanks to all the staff that cared for Jim at UR Medicine Medical Oncology, Radiation Oncology, Interventional Radiology, Infusion Center, Palliative Care, Chronic Pain, Urology and 5th floor of the Wilmont Cancer Center.
There will be no calling hours. Committal will be private at the convenience of the family. He would rather you toast him with a pint of beer at your favorite local brewery and share fond memories.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in his memory to either the Prostate Cancer Foundation which has a 1-to-1 match through the end of the year, the Wilmont Cancer Institute at UR Medicine, UR Medicine Hospice or the American Diabetes Association.