James E. Williams

James E. Williams May 9, 2013 James E. Williams died May 9, 2013 in his home at 22 Carriage Road, Delmar, after a long illness with cancer, bravely borne. He was 64 years old. Born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, he was the son of the late Ruby Staples Williams and James E. Williams. A member of Students for a Democratic Society during the 1960s, he attended Lake Forest College in Chicago, Roger Williams College, the University of Connecticut, and the State University of New York at Albany, earning a baccalaureate degree in American Studies and two masters' degrees, in urban planning and education. Early on in his professional life, he was a transportation planner for state agencies in New York and Connecticut and a field researcher for Yale University's School of Medicine. For most of his career, however, he loved and taught mathematics, at Darrow School (New Lebanon NY), Emma Willard (Troy NY), and Berkshire School (Sheffield MA), tutored students privately in academic support, coached baseball, and refereed soccer games for the Capital District Youth Soccer League and for FIFA. He was also a member of the American Association of Independent Investors Honest Weight Food Cooperative. He worked years ago for hospice in the Capital District and for Big Brothers in New Haven CT. An avid musician, singer, and published poet, Jim played folk music on bass and acoustic guitars with area musicians in the Quaker community, and participated in readings in the poetry community in Bethlehem and Voorheesville, NY. He loved great literature and classical music. He was a fanatical Giants fan and a loyal Red Sox fan. Jim (also known as "Mathguy" and "Doc") is survived by his wife, Donna E. (Williams) Aitoro and his daughter, Antonia "Nia" Aitoro Williams, both of Delmar, NY; by two sisters, Sue Williams, of Falmouth MA, Martha Williams of Charlottesville VA, a niece, Laura Woodworth Keohane, a nephew, Steve Woodworth of Westwood MA, and five great-nephews, Jacob, Isaac, and Michael Keohane of Farmville, VA, and Teddy and Caleb Woodworth, also of Westwood MA. Applebee Funeral Home in Delmar NY provided funeral arrangements. Family members invite friends and relatives to share in a celebration of Jim's life at a memorial service, to be held on Sunday, May 19, at 2 PM at Delmar Reformed Church, 386 Delaware Avenue. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made to the Community Hospice in Albany, New York - we couldn't have done it without you, Becky, Laura, Michelle, Lisa, Nettie, Will, Joel, Michael, Dianne, those of you from the Rensselaer team during our Albany Memorial stay, and those of you whose names slip the mind, like the massage therapists. Big thanks to the Eddy, Hudson-Mohawk Ambulance - and all of you at Applebee.