James Louis Roytz

James (Jim) Louis Roytz left this world surrounded by the love of his wife and daughters on the morning of March 7, 2024 in Bradenton, Florida. Born in Wickliffe, Ohio on May 31, 1948, Jim attended Wickliffe High School, where he developed his love for music as a percussionist in the Wickliffe High School band and played for the school’s baseball team before attending Youngstown State University and earning a Bachelor of Music degree in education.

Jim went on to teach in the South Euclid-Lyndhurst school system in various roles from kindergarten through 12th grade, including marching band, jazz ensemble, choir and as the school system’s general music director. In 1984 he became the band director at Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School, where he spent the majority of his teaching career and where his daughters and thousands of other students were the beneficiaries of his passion for music and talent for teaching and mentorship. He taught at BBHHS for the remainder of his career until his retirement in 2005, as the director of bands and chair of the music department, which included music theory and appreciation, conducting the marching band, symphonic band, jazz band and pit orchestras for the school’s drama department. During his time there, his bands won numerous awards at State Contests and marching events around the country, including the Peach Bowl and Disney World. He also founded the Brecksville-Broadview Heights Community Band in 1993, allowing many of his former students and musically inclined community members to share their love of music with each other and the community.

After retiring from BBHHS and later moving to Florida, Jim and his wife, Diane, were active members of the music community in Sarasota, playing in the Suncoast Concert Band, Sarasota Wind Ensemble, Sarasota Concert Band, Venice Concert Band, plus many church performances and big band events. They also enjoyed playing golf, cards and simply enjoying the company of their many friends.

As fulfilling and meaningful as his career was, his greatest achievement in life was as a loyal, supportive and loving spouse and father. He and Diane built an incredible life and family together with memories that will bring comfort and solace for years to come. They loved each other with the same intensity and passion in their final days together as their first. As a father he was there for every concert, sporting event and horse show, every heart-to-heart and to celebrate or commiserate every one of his daughters’ milestones. He approached each day with candor, humor and positivity, and those around him could not help but do the same.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents (Louis Roytz and Julia (Sustarsic) Roytz). He is survived by Diane (Bowen) Roytz, his wife of 45 years and his daughters, Jennifer Roytz (Stuart Brown) and Christina (Roytz) Birdwell (Greg Birdwell), as well as his nieces and nephews Scott Fournier, Amanda (Fournier) Filler, Lauren (Fournier) Wilber, Marleina Jaros, and Natascha (Bowen) Lamine.

A celebration of life service will be held on Tuesday, March 19th, 2024 at St. Boniface Church (5615 Midnight Pass Rd., Sarasota, FL 34242) at noon with refreshments to follow.

In lieu of flowers, the Roytz family asks family and friends to honor Jim’s memory with donations to the James L. Roytz Band Award at Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School (a cash award given each year to a deserving senior band member) through the Brecksville-Broadview Heights Schools Foundation (www.bbhsf.org; Brecksville Broadview Heights School Foundation 6638 Mill Rd., Brecksville, OH 44141 – please note that any gifts be directed specifically to the James L. Roytz Band Award).