James Joseph Fedorchak

James J. Fedorchak, 80, passed away peacefully in Arlington, VA on February 6, 2022 following a lengthy illness. His three children were at his side, joining him in love and prayer. Jim was born on August 2, 1941 to Samuel and Matilda Fedorchak in Carbondale, PA. His Carbondale roots remained of great importance to him throughout his life, and it is here that he acquired the nickname Yogi, due to his childhood love of the Yankee great Yogi Berra. He retained his fierce love of Yankee baseball, Binghamton minor league hockey and baseball teams and sports in general throughout his life, and was a devoted youth sports coach and referee. Jim graduated Benjamin Franklin High School in 1959, and then graduated Lackawanna Business School in 1961. As a young man, he completed Army basic combat training, and later served in the New York Army National Guard for six years. In 1963, Jim moved from Carbondale to Binghamton, NY to pursue a career in banking and, along with his wife Mary (Calabro), start a family. He remained a Binghamton resident until 2021. Jim was many important things to many people throughout his life. He was a devoted son, brother, and husband. He was a loving father and grandfather; he especially enjoyed hearing about the academic and athletic achievements of his grandchildren. He was a hard worker, in both his professional and personal life. Jim also had a terrific sense of humor, highlighted by a creative and colorful vocabulary. Later in life, he took great joy in the company of his special friend and companion, Evelyn Miller, and their two beloved dogs, Yogi and Bear. More than anything, though, Jim was a genuinely kind man. He was friendly to all and reserved special empathy for those who were less fortunate. He would never turn his back on someone in need, no matter the circumstances, and he always relied on the principles of his deep Catholic faith to guide him in his efforts to be of service to others. His children and grandchildren are deeply respectful and appreciative of the example he set for us in this regard. Jim was predeceased by his father Samuel and his mother Matilda. He is survived by his three children: Stephen (Kirstin), of Arlington, VA, Maria, of Middleburg, VA, and Mark, of Arlington, VA. He is also survived by his brother Donald (Janice), his sister Carol (Donald), his grandchildren Dominick, Sasha, Luke, John, Matthew, Beatrice, and Ellie Ryan, and many other extended family members. A funeral mass in celebration of Jim’s life will be held at St. Mary of the Assumption Church, 37 Fayette St., Binghamton, NY on February 24 at 10:00am. Members of the family will greet mourners from 9:30am-10:00am at the Church, prior to the service. A private burial will occur at Our Mother of Sorrows Cemetery in Carbondale, PA on February 25. If desired, memorial contributions can be made to Catholic Charities of Broome County. In closing, Jim’s family would like to extend our most sincere gratitude to Dr. Eric Glasser, MD, and his colleagues at Georgetown University Hospital for their professional expertise and unwavering guidance. We’d also like to thank Capital Caring Health and Visiting Angels for their deeply compassionate support and care of Jim over the last few months.