Obituary of Robert E. James

On Friday January 29, 2021, Robert Earl James, loving husband, and father of four children, passed away at the age of 91 at Good Shepherd Hospice. Robert was born on December 6, 1929 in Brooklyn, NY to Robert and Doris (Campbell) James. At seventeen he enlisted in the US Army Air Corps, now the US Air Force. He was the youngest control tower operator at Mitchell Field. He attained the rank of Technical Sergeant working in GCA - Ground Control Approach. After his military service he worked in electronic sales for over sixty years as the president of his own company. On September 5, 1953 he married Eileen Claire Seidelbach. They raised two sons, Robert and Richard, and two daughters, Eileen and Patricia. Military service fueled his fascination with aviation. He was especially interested with the great aircraft of World War II. He sponsored restoration of the “All American”, a WWII B-24 bomber that performed at airshows across the Nation. He flew on board any chance he got. Not surprisingly he loved the songs of the big band era that he sang from memory and danced to with his wife. He was passionate for his Catholic faith. A frequent attendee at daily mass, Robert passed his great Faith first to his children and then to his grandchildren. The important events of his life and family happened in Church. He made it a point to be there for his children’s events. He brought his “Brooklyn kids playing in the street” upbringing with him to the block on Crampton Ave in the Old Village of Great Neck. Football, “Running Bases”, handball, and basketball were a daily occurrence. When the cold weather arrived, competition moved to the basement for games of one goalie, one shooter hockey. He is fondly remembered by the kids in the neighborhood as the fun dad. To his friends, laughter is what he will be remembered for the most. Good jokes, funny comedy bits, and lightening quick comebacks made good times great. As people remember him, his humor is what was his finest quality; that he was a “great guy”. Robert was preceded in death by his parents Robert and Doris, his sister Patricia, and his wife Eileen. He is survived by his half-sister Claudette Snitiker, four children, Robert married to Patricia, Richard married to Mary, Eileen married Jerome, and Patricia married Mark, eleven grandchildren, Robert, Christopher, John, Jennifer married to David, Richard, Catherine married to Austin, Michael, Thomas, Elizabeth, Stephen, Magdalena, three step-grandchildren, Katherine, Abraham and Madison, and great-grandson, Noah. The Funeral (Latin Requiem Mass) will be offered on Friday, February 5th 2021, at St. Michael the Archangel Roman Catholic Church, 900 Horseblock Rd, Farmingville, NY 11738 at 11 am.