James Minor Schork

On December 31, 2020, at the age of 72, Jim died peacefully at the Stratton VA Hospital in Albany, NY from esophageal cancer. Born April 29, 1948 in Bethel, CT to Joyce (Minor) and the late, Frederick B. Schork and predeceased by his brother, “Rickie” (Frederick B. Schork, Jr.) in 1954, Jim is survived by his mother, son Erick W. Schork, sister Marietta Schork Velvis (Harm Velvis), nephews Kyle, Niek, Mark, and niece Mariah. It is with heavy hearts that we mourn his death.

Jimmy grew up in Bethel, graduated from BHS in 1967 and enlisted in the Army in 1968. He was a Vietnam Vet earning the honor of Bronze Star and Purple Heart. Jim received his BA in Business Admin. from Western Conn St. Univ. He lived in Danbury, CT, San Francisco, CA, Houston, TX and Albany, NY.

Jim was quite a guy! He was intelligent, witty and had a quirky sense of humor. He was fun-loving. He was an athlete and a soldier. He was a teaser, a hard worker, a smoker, a drinker and a die-hard Mets fan. He struggled with PTSD and his frightening memories of Vietnam. He was patriotic, but angry at his government for the lies perpetrated about the “conflict” in Vietnam. He was a history buff and loved old Westerns. He built things and fixed things. He was creative. He was very social. Jim was full of love, though his expressions of love were tangled in his own inner struggles, often distancing himself to protect those whom he loved deeply. Jimbo loved the beach. We hope he found his eternal beach where he has his feet in the water, a cool drink in his hand and rests in comfort knowing that he was loved.

Memorial services via Zoom, January 10, 2021. Interment of Jim’s ashes will be at the Elmwood Cemetery in Bethel, CT in the Spring.