James Cole Showacre

James (Jim) Cole Showacre, age 97 of 9 Perry Lane, Ithaca, NY passed away on August 20, 2024, at Cayuga Nursing and Rehab Center, after a short illness.

James was born in Ithaca on November 22, 1926, son of Dr. Edward Conrad and Margaret Burlingame Showacre.

He had many stories of his younger years, especially spending summers at Camp Otter Boys Camp in Dorset, Ontario, Canada, with his family where his father was the Camp’s physician. He graduated Ithaca High School in 1945 and then completed two years of active duty in the US Naval Reserve. Following his military service he completed a Bachelors of Physical Education
from Ithaca College. Then, he received two Masters from Cornell University.

After several teaching and coaching positions he was hired by Cornell in 1960 as a Systems Analyst in the Student Loan Accounting Department. He developed 8 proposals, which were
submitted and approved by the US Congress for the National Defense Student Loan Program. He was cited by the Federal Auditing Office for making Cornell University the national model for
student loan programs.

Three months into his tenure at Cornell, Jim volunteered to assist Coach Bob Cullen with the Sprint (Lightweight) Football program. In 1962 he became the team’s Defensive Coordinator and continued in that position for the next 22 years, donating his salary back to the program each year.

Jim was very active in the community. He was a member of the Lansing Town Planning Board, President of the Social Service League which became GIAC, Vice-Chair of Bolton Point Water Commission, Treasurer of the Ithaca Rotary Club for 20 years, Treasurer of Cornell’s Acacia Fraternity for 45 years out of his 60 years of dedicated membership and served on the Board of
Directors for the Visiting Nurse Service of Ithaca and Tompkins County.

One of Jim’s dearest friends, Al Cook, enlisted help from fellow Rotarians to seasonally “open” and “close” his cottage on Temagami Lake in Ontario, Canada. This was the beginning of 20+
years of getting together and making lifelong memories. After Al Cook’s passing, many of the group continued getting together at Larry Thayer’s cottage on Cayuga Lake, renaming their fun
time as “The Temagami on Cayuga.”

His love of sailing brought Jim and his wife, Edie to travel to Ireland to commission the building of their 30 foot yacht, named “Shamrock”. He became very active in competitive sailing on
Cayuga Lake and Lake Ontario, resulting in numerous awards. In his later years he very much enjoyed designing beautiful homes, one of which became their final residence on Perry Lane.

In addition to his daughter, Joanne C. Showacre of Ithaca, NY, he is survived by his sister, Mary S. (Muzzy) Hemken of Lexington, KY. He is also survived by a brother-in-law and a sister-in-law in St. Louis, MO, a sister-in-law and brother-in-law from Nantucket, MA, and families. Jim was predeceased by his wife of over 48.5 years, Edith W. Showacre, his sister, Elizabeth Ann (Betty)
Showacre of Coralville, IA and his brother, Richard E. Showacre of Seattle, WA.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday September 7, 2024, at Perkins Funeral Home, Dryden, NY, calling hours 1-2pm prior to 2pm service with military honors. The burial will be at a later date at Frear Memorial Park.

Donations in memory of Jim are encouraged to the SPCA of Tompkins County, 1640 Hanshaw Rd. Ithaca, NY 14850.