James (Jim) Kenneth Wolfe died peacefully at his home near the ocean in North Myrtle Beach on Saturday, February 20. He was 87. Jim was an accomplished writer, editor, and communications liaison in the public and private sectors.
Jim was born and raised in New York City and graduated from New York University with degrees in English literature and fine arts. During his early years in the city, he wrote feature articles for various publications, poetry, and a novel on the Beat Generation. He was editor-in-chief of the Yonkers Daily News and a reporter for AP. Jim loved music, wrote and published a popular song, played the trumpet for pleasure, and frequented NYC jazz clubs. Jim was an avid chess player and could often be found taking part in Greenwich Village chess shop games and tournaments.
He was a lifelong fan of the Dodgers, even when they left Brooklyn. Later in life he played fantasy baseball with enthusiasts across the country and was the top winner in two seasons.
He served in the US Army during the Korean War.
When Jim left New York he went to work for the US Department of Agriculture and during the course of 27 years had many different assignments. He wrote popular and technical publications, taught “The Art of Writing” to scientists across the country and served as Managing Editor of the well-known Extension Review. Jim learned sailing and loved to take his boats out on the waters of Severna Park, Annapolis, and the Potomac.
While living in the DC area, he was among the first families to seek and continue working for truth and justice in the bombing of Pan Am 103 on December 21, 1988. Jim’s 20-year-old daughter, Miriam, was among the Syracuse University students killed in the bombing.
He is survived by his wife, Rosemary T. Wolfe, also of New York City; his stepson, Christopher William Spencer, of Chatham, NY; his daughter-in-law, Maria; and four grandchildren, Isabella, 15, Luca, 14, Dante, 7, and Amadeo, 5. A niece, Beth Karlin of Burbank, CA, and a nephew, Andrew Karlin of Los Angeles, CA.
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