Tributes

James C. Pratt, born March 28, 1935, in Richland, New York, son of Wayne and Elizabeth Pratt, died suddenly on April 13, 2015. Survived by wife Mary Beth Pratt and loving family. Sons and daughters-in-law Mike and Sherri Pratt, St. Charles, MO; Rob and Kristina Dunne, Northville, MI; Josh and Sarah Pratt, Tupper Lake, NY, and dear family friends Debra Sutton and Butch Beals, Malvern, PA. Ten grandchildren Kristy, Daniel and Megan Pratt; Erin, Robert, Jeremiah and Agnes Dunne; Lowden and Amelia Pratt; Erin Sutton-Beals. Siblings Betty Gerdon, Hemet, CA; Gloria and Dick Young, Fountain Hills, AZ; Doug and Barbara Pratt, Sandy Creek, NY; and his wife’s brother’s family Rick and Jodi Tully, Columbus, OH. Nieces and nephews Ed Gerdon, Darlene McCarney, Janet Hamby, Dedee and Jamie Sivero, Laurie and Dave Basler, Adam and Kristin Cipollone Pratt, Stacia and Aaron Schioppa, Caitlin Tully, Steve and Karen Rossman, Amy and Randy Shervin. Many great nieces and nephews, and other family friends. An Eagle Scout, Jim received his B.S. from SUNY Cortland and an M.S. from SUNY Brockport. He served in the U.S. Army after college, from 1957 to 1959. Jim’s career was spent in the service of youth, starting in Rochester, NY, as a street gang worker for the YMCA. He became the executive director of Threshold, Center for Alternative Youth Services, in 1975, and in 1988 the executive director of the New York State 4-H Foundation, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY. Jim retired in 2000 and became an active volunteer with Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church, Bryn Mawr, PA. He served on Session, with Youth Ministry and World Wide Ministries, as an usher and a Sunday school teacher. He worked every week with a housing rehabilitation program started by the church, which is now part of Habitat for Humanity – West Philadelphia. He also volunteered at The Wild Center, the Natural History Museum of the Adirondacks, Tupper Lake, NY. Jim enjoyed spending time with his family, traveling, gardening and other outdoor activities. He also was an avid Philadelphia sports fan. A memorial service will be held at Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church, 625 Montgomery Ave, Bryn Mawr, PA, at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 9, 2015. The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, gifts in Jim’s name be made to one of the following: Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church Foundation, 625 Montgomery Ave., Bryn Mawr, PA, 19010; New York State 4-H Foundation, 248 Grant Ave., Suite II-A, Auburn, NY, 13021; “Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia, West Philadelphia Repair Initiative,” 4157 W. Girard Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19104; or the Wild Center, 45 Museum Drive, Tupper Lake, NY 12986.

Tributes

James C. Pratt

March 28, 1935 - April 13, 2015