Cynthia Cumming (1967)

James William Cotter, 59, of Clinton and White Lake, died at home on Wednesday, December 24, 2008 after a long illness. He was born in Buffalo, December 7, 1949, the son of Ray W. and Sophia Vaughan Cotter. Educated in Amherst, NY schools, he graduated from the University of Michigan in 1972 with a degree in Natural Resources. Upon graduation, he joined the Peace Corps and worked for three years in Malacatancito, Guatemala developing reforestation projects, an experience which inspired a lifelong love of travel, the Spanish language and Latin-American culture. In November 1976, he married Sarah Fisher in Utica, and has resided in this area ever since. For 15 years, he worked at the Oneida County Boiler Works as Vice-President of sales. He later worked as a manufacturer's representative for Octopus Equipment and Steam Plant Systems, providing pollution control equipment to the power industries. He loved all sports because he loved to play, and coached AYSO soccer for many years. He was proud of his unbroken string of Boilermaker Races, given up only when he was too sick to run. He was most content when 'playing in the dirt', and left many lasting monuments of beauty in landscaping and garden projects, especially at his beloved camp on White Lake. He leaves as well the lasting beauty of his floral watercolors which he loved to share with his many friends. Besides his mother, Sophia, of Hampstead, NC, Jim is survived by his beloved wife, Sarah; his sons, Brendan V. Cotter, of Liverpool, William K. Cotter, of New York City, and Gavin M. Cotter, of Boston; his sisters, Cathy Cotter and husband, Frank White, of Hampstead, NC, and Barbara Cotter, of San Jose, CA; and his brother, Ray Jr. and wife, Sandra Cotter, of Seattle, WA. He was predeceased by his father and brother, Clifford.