James W. “Jim” Crockett, 77, passed away peacefully at home on Oc. 7, 2021, after a lengthy and courageous struggle with Alzheimer’s disease, surrounded by love and his family. Jim was born in Syracuse on Jan. 4, 1944, and grew up on the Northside. He graduated from Eastwood High School in 1962 and attended Syracuse University before moving to Camillus in 1968. In that same year, Jim married the love of his life and best friend, Cheryl. Together they raised three daughters whom he always made feel loved and was immensely proud of.
Jim was a real estate broker for more than 40 years, working for Gallinger Real Estate and later Howard Hanna Real Estate Services, helping hundreds of families find and build homes. He was known throughout the real estate community for his kindness, integrity, generosity and mentorship, earning numerous awards during his career including the Greater Syracuse Board of Realtors Professional Merit Award. He was also named Greater Camillus Chamber of Commerce Business Person of the Year in 2008.
Jim was a proud member of the Camillus Optimist Club since 1979, where he held several leadership positions including serving as president of the club several times, as well as commissioner of the baseball and girls’ softball program for more than 18 years. Fondly referred to as “Opto-Ball,” Jim was committed to bringing the youth of Camillus together through this program. His dedication earned him an induction to the Camillus Sports Hall of Fame in 2012 and the Jim Crockett Student Athlete Award is presented annually to a male and female West Genesee High School student in honor of his commitment to the Optimist Club and Camillus community.
Jim’s passions were plentiful: golf, the Dodgers (Sandy Koufax in particular), reading, playing pitch, his community and a well-made bourbon Manhattan with four cherries (one for each of his girls). But no passion was greater than his love for his family, camping together at Nick’s Lake in the Adirondacks and watching the sun set over the Moose River.
Jim is predeceased by his parents, Walter and Dorine (Dickerson) Crockett.
Surviving are his wife of 53 years, Cheryl (Nelson); his daughters, Diana Crockett of Boston, Emily (Ron) Boyer of Camillus, Stephanie (Matt Read) Crockett of Syracuse; his beloved grandson, Ryan James Boyer; siblings, Donald (Mary Jo) Crockett of Camillus, Nancy (Walter) Czernial of Lakeland, William (Dorothy) Crockett of Medford, OR, Carol (James) Cummings of Syracuse, and Richard Crockett of Lakeland; and several loved nieces and nephews.
A private celebration of life will be planned for the spring. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Camillus Optimist Club PO Box 33, Camillus, NY 13031 and the Alzheimer’s Association at alz.org.
Share condolences at buranichfh.com.
