Richard (Dick) N. Ames passed away quietly at his home in Fayetteville on Thursday, Dec. 28, two days before his 98th birthday. He was the husband of the late Isabel Wagner Ames. Richard was born in Cortland on Dec. 30, 1919. His parents were Hon. Morse E. Ames and Lula Buckingham Ames. He graduated from the Manlius Military School in 1937 and from Ohio Wesleyan in 1941. He entered law school at Syracuse University, however, in 1942 he joined the Army Air Corp serving as a second lieutenant during WWII. In 1945 he left the Air Force and served in the Air Force Reserves until 1951reaching the rank of captain. In 1945 he returned to law school. He graduated from Syracuse Law School and was admitted to the New York State Bar in 1947. Richard was a practicing attorney in the Coulter, Fraser, Carr, Ames and Bolton Law firm for over 40 years and practiced independently for another 25 years.
Richard’s passion throughout his life was the promotion of traditional and Dixieland Jazz. He began his fascination with jazz in the early 1930s by playing the cornet in the brass section of his high school dance band. He even sat in a few times with a local band led by Spiegle Wilcox. In 1957 he organized a band to accompany a fundraiser for the Lions Club in Fayetteville. The band (Dixie Dandies) continued to play for various gigs and Lion Club conventions. They appeared on the Ted Mack Amateur Hour in 1959. The band released a LP in 1963. Later the band changed its name to the Bear Cat Jass Band. In 1992 the band released a two CD set. Richard arranged all the music and led the band for nearly 60 years.Richard’s passion for traditional jazz went beyond performing with the band. In 1971 he helped establish JASS (Jazz Appreciation Society of Syracuse) where he served as a board member, president, editor and later was appointed President Emeritus. He also became a founding member of the American Federation of Jazz Societies.
Richard was predeceased by his wife Isabel, his mother Lula, his father Morse, his sister Martha and his brother Frederick. Surviving are his three children, Jennifer Ames of Doylestown, PA, Marcia Ames of Syracuse and John Ames (Karen) of Chittenango and his four grandsons, Jason, Brian, Jeffrey and Steven. He also had 14 nieces and nephews and over 40 great-nieces and nephews.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 1 p.m. on Jan. 27 at Eastern Hills Bible Church, 8277 Cazenovia Road, Manlius. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to JASS Sustaining Fund c/o Sue Hodge, 501 Summit Ave, Syracuse, NY 13207. Condolences: mathewsonforani.com.