James D. Elam

Henrietta – On November 6, 2023 at age 69. He is predeceased by his parents, James W. and Helen V. Elam. James is survived by his sisters; Mary Beth (Jay) Prosnitz and Helen Maeve (Ben) Mac An Tuile; nephews; Aaron (Hilary) Prosnitz and Daniel (Mounifa) Prosnitz; great-nephew and nieces; David, Sarah and Elizabeth Prosnitz; step-niece and nephew, Tanya and Aidan Finn; aunts; Kathy Saetta (Mike), Sharon Commisso (Jim) and Loetta Elam, many cousins and dear friends.

Jim, affectionately called Jimmy by his family, was named after his Uncle Jimmy Vollmer who died in France during WWII. Jim lived in the South Wedge of Rochester, NY with his parents, his sister Mary, and his grandparents in their home. In 1959, the Elam family moved to Henrietta where Jim resided for the remainder of his life. Jim attended Good Shepherd grammar school and then McQuaid Jesuit High School where he graduated in the class of ’72. Afterwards, Jim attended St. John Fisher College where he earned a BA degree in History. Jim worked for several local grocery stores until he landed a teaching position with the Rochester City School District (RSCD). During his employment with RCSD, Jim attended SUNY, Geneseo where he earned a MS degree in Education.

In 2019, Jim retired from RCSD and devoted his time to his Mother Helen V. Elam, the longtime Henrietta Town Historian. Jim also pursued his hobbies that included attending McQuaid alumni functions, having fun with flags, history, model building, music, reading, stamp collecting, watching the Buffalo Bills games, weekly visits to local brew pubs, traveling and was a true Trekkie!  In 2021 he took a trip to Las Vegas with Pete Hart to attend the International Plastic Modelers’ Society (IPMS) show. Afterwards, they went on to California, his favorite vacation destination, to visit their friend Tom Culross. In fact, in his younger days, Jim drove across the country to California twice!!

Jim will be sorely missed by his family and classmates Peter Hart, Keith Bock, Chuck D’Agostino, Tom Culross, their families, and his many friends in the McQuaid Jesuit High School Class of 1972.  He will also be missed by his fellow teachers in the RCSD, especially Pat Cain and by his many friends in the ROC City Scale Modelers, (Rochester Chapter of the IPMS), where he was a forty-year member and treasurer. Jim was also an active member of the Henrietta Historical Society and enjoyed walks in the Tinker Nature Center. 

And since it is the holiday season, we fondly reminisce about the many Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners spent with the McNamara family over the years.

Family and friends may call at Miller Funeral and Cremation Services, 3325 Winton Road S., Saturday, December 2, 2023 from 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM. Interment private. Kindly consider donations to McQuaid Jesuit High School in Jim’s memory.