Obituary of John R. Scorse

John R. Scorse, 82, of 369 Howard Ave., Jamestown, NY, passed away at 7:25 pm Thursday, April 4, 2019, in UPMC Chautauqua, surrounded by his loving family. John was born October 20, 1936 in Rochester, NY, the son of the late James and Anne Trabold Scorse. He graduated from Southwestern Central School as a member of the Class of 1954 and received his Associates Degree from Jamestown Community College a few years later. John was a veteran of the U.S. Navy serving from August 30, 1954 to September 19, 1957, during the Korean War Era and "saw the world". Following his discharge from the Navy, after working in construction for a short time, John went to work for the Chautauqua County Sheriff's Department. He worked his way up through the ranks and was jail supervisor (Warden) at the time of his first retirement in 1986. Following his retirement, he tried his hand at other positions including, helping to build a reproduction of Henry Hudson's sailing ship the "Half Moon", in Albany Harbor. In 1990, he returned to the Sheriff's Department as a Navigation Officer on the county's lakes for two summers and then as a Court Officer in the County Court System until his second retirement in September 2011, having spent a total of 47 years with the Sheriff's Department. John enjoyed golfing, boating and traveling (especially to Myrtle Beach). His two favorite trips were to Spain in 1990 and to St. Maarten in the Caribbean in 2013. Above all, he enjoyed being a grandpa and attended many of his grandchildren's sporting events. He was liked by everyone he met. He had a unique smile and an unmistakable laugh that was infectious. He was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather and friend. He would do anything for anyone, without ever being asked. John is survived by his wife, Maggie Snyder Scorse whom he married August 2, 1985, on the Sea Lion sailing ship in Mayville, NY. Also surviving are two daughters; Denise (Jim) Jenks of Saranac Lake, NY, Doreen (Bruce) Wlodarek of Mayville, NY, a step-daughter; Kim (Dave) Kowalski of Jackson MI, a step-son; Troy (Mary) Moran of Jamestown. John had a total of 13 grandchildren; Brian (Heather) Kranz of Mayville, Kyle (Janelle) Kranz of Sherman, NY, Danielle (Tommy) Haase of Dunkirk, NY, Nicole Wlodarek of Reno, NV, Andrea (Jeremy) Alden of Tallahassee, FL, Julie (Jeff) Liesch of Rome, NY, Stephen and Alex Spaulding of Jackson, MI, Nicole Kowalski of MI, Amanda Kowalski of MI, Ashley Moran of Naples, FL, Kevin Moran of Lexington, KY, Shannon Moran of Jamestown, as well as twelve great grandchildren, three brothers; Jim (Micky) Scorse of Orange City, FL, Gerry (Gloria) Scorse of New York City, Joe (Mary) Scorse of Dallas, TX, two brother-in-laws; Stew (Sandy) Snyder of Sanford, NC, Mark (Linda) Snyder of Lexington, SC, and a sister-in-law Denise Snyder of Jamestown, as well as several nieces and nephews. Besides his parents he was preceded in death by a great granddaughter, Evelyn Alden in 2015, a great granddaughter, Gabrielle Spaulding in 1988, his father-in-law and wife Stew and Beth Snyder, his mother-in-law, Lois Snyder and his brother-in-law Lew Snyder. John was very special to his in-laws and he lovingly helped care for all three of them during their last few years. At John's request, there will be no visitation observed. A memorial service will be held at a later date. The family suggests that memorial donations be made to Chautauqua County Hospice and Palliative Care, 20 West Fairmount Ave. Lakewood, NY 14750 or to the James Prendergast Library, 509 Cherry St. Jamestown, NY 14701.