James Francis Day Sr.

Jim considered himself an avid but mediocre golfer, a loving and devoted husband, and a knowledgeable expert on just about everything else.

He was born in Newark, New Jersey and raised in West Orange, NJ by devoutly religious catholic parents, Edward and Marie Day. He was one of five brothers but the first of the brood to graduate from college. He held degrees from Newark College of Engineering as well as a masters in Engineering from NYU.

He had an illustrious 34-year career at Bell Laboratories and AT&T where he retired at the executive level as the Vice President of Systems Architecture. At 6'4" with a baritone voice, he was known as an intimidating but supportive leader. He loved to teach others and took great pride in giving advice.

He traveled the world and raised three children with the light of his life, his wife Marilyn (Sparks) Day. He was known to give Marilyn sole credit for their loving group of friends, and the smart decision to move to Naples, FL.

Jim was very active in community affairs. He was a volunteer fireman in his spare time and twice served twice as mayor of Colts Neck, New Jersey, something in which his children took great pride.

Music, and specifically brass-section music, was a colorful and ever-present thread woven throughout his life. He studied trombone as a teenager and resumed active playing in retirement. He began performing in the 1950s and 1960s with national championship drum and bugle corps in New Jersey, winning many titles at veteran organization national conventions. Jim became a brass instructor and music arranger of these units after training in the Extension Division of the Julliard School in New York City. Jim later became a music competition judge and was on the judging panels of the first 4 DCI (Drum Corps International) national championships in the 1970s. He would wake his children up on Christmas morning by playing holiday tunes from a baritone horn or trombone into their sleeping faces.

After retiring from Bell Labs, Jim resumed active playing in concert bands and orchestras in Florida and New Jersey. Jim formed a successful swing band in his home town of Colts Neck NJ. He and his wife Marilyn moved to Naples in 2007, where he resumed writing and arranging music for concert band and swing band orchestra. He played in the trombone section of the Naples Concert Band for 15 years.

He will be missed greatly by Fox News and specifically, Tucker Carlson, both of whom provided him with a steady diet of information that he consumed voraciously. He loved discussing politics, mostly with those who disagreed with him. He rarely backed down from an argument but could also be broken from any tensions with a joke, because he had such a wonderful sense of humor.

Despite Jim's success, he had very little need for worldly possessions and was known for his ability to save money. He was a man of integrity and honesty, perhaps with the exception of his golf score.

He will be remembered for Beefeater martinis, long drives, bad putts and a loud guffaw of a laugh.

He is survived by his three adult children, five grandchildren, and his loving wife of 57 years, Marilyn Day, who resides at Siena Lakes in Naples, FL. If moved to do so, donations would be appreciated in lieu of flowers to St. Judes (https://www.stjude.org/donate).

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.hodgesfhatnaplesmg.com for the Day family.