James Edsal Gumaer

Averill Park- James Edsal Gumaer ,77, a long time resident of Averill Park, N.Y., died on March 8, 2024. The cause of his death was metastatic prostate cancer and complications caused by the disease.  He passed peacefully in the compassionate care of Hospice with loving family members at his side.   

Jim was born February 9, 1947 and raised in Watertown, N.Y., the eldest son of Wilson Edsal and Elizabeth O’Brien Gumaer.  He moved to Manhattan where he earned his BA Degree at the New School for Social Research in Cultural Anthropology.  After several years he moved to Amsterdam, N.Y. to pursue his career in the disabilities field and to earn his MBA Degree at SUNY Albany.  Jim was the Director of Community Services for Montgomery County for over twenty years.  He served children and families from Montgomery County overseeing mental health, mental retardation, alcoholism and substance abuse services.  In 2013 Jim was the recipient of the Dr David and Ann Lee Clough Award for making significant contributions and providing exemplary service to the behavioral health of children and their families through behavioral health services, research, education, policy planning and advocacy.  His prior places of employment included the NYS Rehabilitation Association and the Montgomery County Chapter of NYSARC. He advocated tirelessly for those underserved and most vulnerable.

In his youth his joy of spending summers on the St Lawrence River and his love of music were pleasures that continued throughout his life, reflected in his passion for nature, playing piano and enjoyment of jazz and classical music.  He loved to travel and his pursuits were influenced by his interests: Jazz festivals in New Orleans, music tours in Vienna, the National Parks, birding in Costa Rica or Gran Manan Island, barge trips through France, the Alaskan wilderness, exploring his French Huguenot ancestry, or visiting relatives in Poland.  Jim was an avid photographer and an inspired cook, both of which also influenced his extensive travels.

It was in Amsterdam that Jim met his wife, Theresa Tomaszewska, who survives him.  She has been his travel companion these many years. Jim loved and appreciated the beauty of life. He was kind, compassionate, empathetic, had a great wit and sense of humor.  He was resilient and courageous facing serious health challenges of his own.  Above everything, Jim loved his family and sharing sumptuous meals together.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Theresa; brother Lawrence Gumaer (Duane Page); sisters Brenda Boldizsar (Jeffrey Boldizsar) and Laura Gumaer (Kevin Dermody); nephews John Dermody (Shelby Strauss); Kyle Boldizsar (Katie Crum); Robert Thomas (Laura Thomas); niece Jocelyn Boldizsar (Jonathan Paez) ; In-Laws John and Cecilia Thomas and a wealth of cousins.

If interested, please make donations in The Memory of James E. Gumaer to Friends of the Refuge Internship Fund through the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge (www.parkerriver.org) or to the Albany Symphony Orchestra’s “Symphony in Our Schools Project” (www.albanysymphony.com).

A Celebration of life will be held for Jim at a later date.

Visit www.perrykomdat.com for a guestbook.