Obituary: James Joseph Harmaty

Jan. 11, 1951 – Feb. 20, 2024

James Joseph Harmaty of Grand Island passed away after a long illness. He was the son of the late Joseph and Julia Harmaty.

Jim worked 33 years for the Town of Grand Island as a licensed New York State Health Department grade 2A water filtration operator. He is a graduate of the Great Lakes Laboratory of Erie Community College and Buffalo State College. Jim was active in the Junior Chamber of Commerce at local, state, national and international levels. He held various offices in the organization. He became a life member internationally with a J.C.I. Senatorship and also was a life member of the New York Jaycees. He served as the Grand Island Jaycees president from 1981-82.

He was the United States J.C.I Senator's Goodwill Ambassador to Canada from 1989-95 and made many good friends there. He acted as New York J.C.I. senate historian for over 20 years. His greatest joy was working with young people by teaching about firearms safety through the U.S. Jaycees Daisy Shooter Education Program. From 1982-84, he was named an Outstanding Young Man of America.

Jim was past treasurer in his local A.F.S.C.M.E. Counsel 66-1783. He was also a life member of the National Rifle Association and a life member of the Grand Island Rod and Gun Club, where he was an avid trap and skeet shooter. He also enjoyed fishing.

Jim was a huge sports fan. He followed the Yankees, Mets, Sabres, Bandits and Canadian Football. He was a Hamilton Tigercats season ticketholder for many years and attended six Grey Cup Championship games across Canada. He was a member of the Grand Island Golden Age Club. A Third Degree member of the Grand Island Knights of Columbus and a member of the St. Mary’s Star of the Sea Lodge.

He is survived by many friends both in the U.S. and Canada, including sister Beverly Speller; cousins Joseph Mocsary and Rosalie Mocsary; and relatives in West Virginia. He was special friends with Bill and Barb Wilson, Richard Tilton, Larry Goldberg, Terry Furtney and Debra and John Senn.

A memorial Mass will be held at 11 a.m. March 6 at St. Stephen's Church, 2100 Baseline Road.

Donations can be made to the American Cancer Society.