Bloomfield: James “Jim” was a wonderful man with a gentle soul and at age 72, he passed away on Tuesday, July 7, 2020 at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester.
Jim was born in Rochester, NY to the late Joseph and Marjorie Ochs. He was predeceased by his brother; John “Jack” Ochs. Survived by his wife of 26 years; Tina Ochs; his children; Brian Ochs, Sara (Steve) Petrykiewicz, Anthony (Tania) Fostano, his siblings; Barbara Klein, Kathleen (Gene Bouley) Shaw, Jerome (Susan) Ochs, Kenneth (Christine) Ochs, Ronald (Wendy) Ochs, and by his grandchildren; Colin Ochs, Ross Ochs, Garrett Petrykiewicz, London Petrykiewicz and Liam Fostano, along with several nieces and nephews. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother and uncle as well as a devoted friend to many.
Jim was a veteran of the Vietnam War and often spoke of the beauty at his station in Korea, atop of a hill where he could view the mountains surrounded by the trees and clouds. He loved the peacefulness of living there.
A retiree of Harris Corp., RF Communications, he had many hobbies and interests including crosswords, woodworking, and baking. He loved music and spent much of his time listening to his favorite bands and playing different instruments such as the guitar, flute, fiddle and ukulele.
Jim was an avid Buffalo Bills and NY Yankees fan, he loved watching and listening to games as often as he could.
He was an upstanding community leader and past Commander at the Honeoye Hemlock Legion Post 1278 and he actively participated in veteran related parades and events. His presence and sense of humor will be missed by family and friends alike. Rest easy Jim.
Friends and family are invited to call on Monday, July 13, 2020 from 3-6 PM at the Kevin W. Dougherty Funeral Home, 8624 Main Street in Honeoye. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, following calling hours, a memorial service will be held privately for the immediate family. Memorial Contributions may be made to: Honeoye Hemlock Legion Post 1278, 4931 Co Rd 36, Honeoye, NY 14471. To share a memory or a condolence, please visit: www.doughertyfuneralhomes.com
*Please note, the Funeral Home will be operating at 25% capacity per state guidelines. New York State requires those in attendance to adhere to these guidelines including those related to social distancing and face coverings.
I am sorry to hear of Jim’s passing.
I served with him on that hilltop in Korea in 1969. He was a good man and we had a good time up on the hill while keeping all the gear working.
My condolences to his family.
Tina I am so sorry for your loss. Prayers to you and your family.
Tina, I’m so sorry for your loss. Although I just met you once (at Jim’s Mom’s wake), Jim and I go way back. He was my best friend on Post Ave back in the day before our family moved away (Oct 1955). I have many fond memories of the house at 94 Post Ave. I was welcome there anytime. I lived three doors up the street at #110, with my big sister Carol and little sister Barbara. (I suspect she got her name because she liked the name of Jim’s big sister.) Back then, we kids didn’t knock on doors – I’d just come up the driveway and yell J-I-M-M-E-E-E-E ! and he would come out. I spent many hours climbing that cherry tree in the back yard, and gorging myself with cherries when they were ripe. As I recall, Jim went to St. Augustine School with me, although he was a year behind me. As I said, I moved away in 1955 and didn’t have much contact with him after that. Like Jim, I was an Army Vet and a Vietnam Vet and like him, I work tirelessly for Veterans causes. Many fond memories of Jim. I knew the whole family too: Barb, Kay, Jerry, Kenny, and Jack. (Ron must have a baby, or arrived after I moved.) My condolences to the whole family. I’ll keep Jim and all of you in my prayers.
Glad I got to meet you, Jim. Rest in peace. Tina. No sorry for your loss. Donna
On my way to say good bye to my brother for the last time. A lot to say just hard to put it into words.The brother that taught me the right way to do things. Like at an early age to stop cheering for the Dolphins and become a life long Bills fans. I’ll never forget the games we went to standing in the lot expecting so much for a good game, yet quite often being bummed out after the game but looking forward to the next one. Or how you kept telling me to stop using propane to cook on and to use briquets. So I did. Then you told me to stop using briquets and use lump charcoal. If I ever had questions on grilling or gardening you were there. We have trees scattered in our yard that you gave us because you had extras. What I’ll remember the most and I’ll miss the most are our Monopoly games. You Larry and myself. We would start around 9:30 on Sunday mornings And in 4 hours we could have 3 games done and be out the door. sometimes we might do 5 or 6 games in a day and still be home for supper. A tradition that started When Jack was still living in New York 45 years ago. Monopoly will never be the same for me again. Now it’s up to You Jack and Mom to start a new tradition just try to save me a token.
Tina – So sorry for your loss – think of you and your family.
I believed i worked witI Jim in the early 60’s at either Star Market on West Ave or Wegmans on West ave. I lost track of him after he went into the service. Rest in Peace, Jim.
Thanks for having me at your home in Gononda to play with Sara. Those are memories I will never forget!
Brother Jim,
Although there are many memories of you, one of my first real memories is one Christmas morning when we were very young you woke me up and we went downstairs to find out that Santa had left us each a brand-new Schwinn bike. I assured you mine was faster. You didn’t argue.
We grew up in the city’s 19th ward and lived there until the mid-60’s We were 2 ½ years apart so we hung out together frequently. We were both involved in Boy Scouts, the YMCA and many games of baseball, street football, hide-n-seek etc. You would keep an eye on me as well as your younger brothers Jack and Ron. We shared some friends but we each still had our own friends.
I remember when I worked for the Red and White store in Spencerport about 7 miles from our house. You would frequently take me there or drop me off in your big white Dodge so I didn’t have to walk or hitchhike.
When Uncle Sam called around 1966 you went to serve your country. Your first assignment was to guard an important antenna unit on top of a mountain in Korea. Your second assignment was to stay there and to continue to protect the antenna if it was attacked. Maybe that’s where you, the city boy, got your love for the outdoors, the hills and the quiet of the woods. I didn’t know until very recently when I was visiting you that you had requested to go to Viet Nam but was denied the request.
Awhile after you returned from service you came to live with Chris and I. We lived in the 2nd floor of a house in the 19th ward. You had your own floor above us in the somewhat finished attic. After a couple of years, we moved to Henrietta and you also married and moved to Gononda. I became a god parent to your son Brian.
We both liked deer hunting and for years we hunted together. We would hunt sometimes with others but often it just the two of us. We would spend the nights in our separate trailers at Camp but did a lot of socializing when the day was done or when we walked down the hill for lunch. We did a lot of walking in the woods in those days. We even got a few deer. Those were good times.
When I bought into Camp with Dad, you had a trailer next to Dad’s and Ochs’ Outpost was born. We all worked to fix up Camp and would prepare for the many, many picnics that have been hosted there over the years. There are many, many fond memories from that plot of land called Ochs’ Outpost.
You married Tina at Camp and the wedding and reception was held there. The zip line was part of your ceremony. You really loved the outdoors and the quietness of nature at Camp.
After a few years the property next door to Camp came up for sale. You and Tina jumped at the chance to purchase it. You planted many shrubs, trees and of course a garden. You made it your home. Many times, you would not cut parts of the lawn if the wild flowers were blooming. You had many trails running through the little forest you created. It was the way you wanted it.
It was nice to have someone watch over our place when we weren’t there. After storms, you would walk down to make sure everything was okay at Ochs’ Outpost. When we were there, You, Tina or both would frequently walk down to talk. You would always have a Molson, then a Buckler’s then a Snapple in your hand. You would bring a load of firewood up if ours got low. Your dogs Katie, Mojo and now Chester were always by your side. We frequently would hear the noise from lawnmowers, weedeaters, chain saws a flute or a fiddle coming from the place next door.
Whenever help was needed or I needed to borrow a tool or if I wanted to know something about something going on in the Honeoye area, I knew where to go.
Years ago, it was your idea to start a pig roast at our Labor Day picnic and you got a cooker to do it. After a few years it turned into a turkey roast. It is now a yearly tradition for family and friends. You and Tina organized it, did a lot of the cooking and the brunt of the work.
Every summer in July the blackcap berries would ripen at Camp but Chris and I were frequently away camping. When we got back, we always got a bowl full of berries you had picked. She would turn them into cobbler or pie and of course send some down. She knew you liked deserts so whenever we had deserts, or she baked cookies she always had to send some down to you.
You joined the Legion in Honeoye and became actively involved. You rose to their highest position of Commandant, marched in parades and went to many funerals in the area, for Veterans that had passed. You also went and spoke at churches representing the Vets. You purchased, peeled, cut and cooked potatoes and other needed items for their monthly breakfasts and you were involved in many aspects of the Legion. You had to go there almost daily to maintain the tickets vital to the Legion. You made many friends at the Honeoye Legion. Tina also got involved and helped at the Legion with you.
You were always there for the many parties Chris and I hosted through the years for Christmas Eve, my kid’s baptisms, birthdays, graduations etc. If I was putting up a pool, moving or had some other project at home or Camp you would always be there to help. In our younger days we played adult softball together for Guardian Angels Church along with Jack, Ron and Dad. Mom attended many games.
We differed in some things. You liked the Yankees and Bills, I liked the Orioles and Steelers. I knew better to never discuss politics with you. Although we didn’t agree on some things, we did agree on many things, which is probably the way it should be.
Chris and I will miss the berries, the visits on the porch and not being able to socialize or depend on you, brother Jim.
Ken
Tina & family: So sorry to hear of Jim’s passing. He his now at peace. Our prayers for you and your family during this difficult time.
So sorry to hear of Jim’s passing. He will differently be missed in so many ways. Will keep all of his family in our thoughts and prays. Rest easy Jim.
A brother in arms and heart. Jim was one of my dearest and devoted friends. We were youths of the 60s and it reflected well in our lives. Peace and freedom was our motto and Jim always held true to the faith. A true patriot, father, husband and patriarch of his family. Rest well James and thank you.
Tina, there is always a kindred spirit who shares the light with such as one as Jim and you were always there for him. Thank you too for taking care of everyone. Be well.
Carlos …
Jim will be Missed! One of the best commanders of #1278. Tina so sorry for your loss also for the rest of the family.
Another wonderful person taken too soon. My thoughts and prayers are with Tina and all of Jim’s family. A true gentleman who always greeted you with a smile and kind words. He will be missed by so many, but will always remain in our hearts and thoughts. Rest easy soldier.
Tina
I’m so sorry for your loss. Jim was a wonderful person. He was one of few I felt was a wonderfull, fellow veteran. He will be greatly missed!
Dick Lucas and Judy Judy
Tina, so sorry for your loss. Condolences to you and all the family.
Dearest Tina and family – Was in shock about Jim’s death. My thoughts and prayers are with you all. I know the pain you are in and pray if there is anything I can do. I am sorry that I did not get to see you all when I was i NY recently. Love to you. Mony
It is a beautiful tribute to a wonderful brother … Love. Kay
Tina, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this time of great sorrow.