Jim Rockafellow

DONALD JAMES “Jim” ROCKAFELLOW

Mass of Christian Burial for Donald James “Jim” Rockafellow, 71, will be on Wednesday, February 26, 2014 at 11:30 AM at The Church of St. Mary, 401 North Street, Chardon. Mr. Rockafellow died on February 19, 2014 at Hospice of the Western Reserve in Cleveland. He was a long-time resident of Chardon.

Jim was born in Painesville, Ohio on January 23, 1943 to Donald and Marie Rockafellow. He graduated from Chardon High School in 1961, attended Miami University, and married Sandra Moulton on September 3, 1966. He was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Chardon and a member of the Carpenters’ Union Local #435 for 46 years, retiring in 1998 after 35 years of active work as a carpenter, both residential and commercial. He served in the 107th Armored Calvary of the Ohio National Guard for six years. He was a gifted athlete in his younger days, especially in baseball, having once pitched a no hit shut-out, which included 14 strikeouts. He enjoyed watching his nieces and nephews playing their respective sports whenever possible. He coached various girls softball teams, during the summers, for 13 years in the Chardon Girls Softball League, including 8 as his daughter Susan’s coach. He spent many an hour watching Susan play 4 years of varsity softball for Chardon High School. Jim was an avid Chardon High School football fan, at one point going almost twenty years without missing a game. He especially enjoyed watching his two oldest grandchildren, Halle and Daniel, once again, almost never missing an event.

After Jim retired, Jim and Sandy were able to travel, seeing as much of the United States as they could. During their younger days, Jim and Sandy enjoyed snowmobiling and boating and, more recently, RVing. They would hop into their RV, going to various sites throughout Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York and West Virginia, visiting the casinos, playing the slot machines and watching the horse races. And when the football season ended, NASCAR became his “go to” sport. Most importantly, Jim loved spending time with Sandy and his daughter Susan, her husband Kevin and their family, whether it be a building project or playing with his grandchildren, even getting into the sandbox with his newest grandchild, Lila. He loved them all dearly. His sense of humor could make the worst sourpuss in the world laugh until they cried. He as a quiet man and a gentleman of the highest order, and he will be missed by everyone who had the privilege of knowing him.

He is survived by his wife of 47 years Sandy (nee Moulton); daughter Susan (Kevin) Novotney of Chardon; grandchildren Halle, Daniel and Lila Novotney of Chardon; siblings Loretta (Arbin) Vaughn of Chardon, Timothy (Christine) Rockafellow of Smithville, Texas, Denise Bliley of Rome, Ohio and Mark (Deborah) Rockafellow of Hambden; brother-in-law Sterling Moulton of Madison, Ohio; many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews; good friends, especially Richard & Patrice Hammitt, Linda Christman, and his beloved “Mattie”.

He was preceded in death by his parents Donald and Marie (nee Werbeach) Rockafellow and brother Christopher Rockafellow.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Jim’s memory to Hospice of the Western Reserve, 17876 St. Clair Ave., Cleveland, 44110 or Geauga County Dog Shelter, 12513 Merritt Rd., Chardon, Ohio 44024.

Cremation by DeJohn Crematory. The family will receive friends to pay tribute to and celebrate the life of Jim at The DeJohn Funeral Home & Crematory of Chardon (formerly Ritondaro), 126 South St. (Rt. 44, south of Rt. 6/Chardon Square) on TUESDAY FROM 4:00 TO 8:00 PM.