James W. McCoy

Dr. James Wells McCoy, age 91 and resident of Staten Island for 53 years, died at home from cancer on October 16, 2026, surrounded by his loving family. He is survived by Joan, his wife of 65 years, and his six children.

Dr. McCoy was born in Washington, DC, in 1935 to Olive and Leo McCoy. He earned a bachelor's degree in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering from the Webb Institute in Glen Cove, NY. He then served in the U.S. Army for two years before earning a PhD in Mathematics from the University of Oregon. He spent the bulk of his career at Wagner College, where he served as Professor and Chair of the Department of Mathematics, as well as the director of the school's computer center.

Dr. McCoy had a keen engineering mind and could make or fix anything. Using his VA benefits, he took a course in electronics and built the family's first color TV from a kit. When he tired of changing the channels with a bamboo pole, he crafted a wired remote control. In the early 1970s he built a grandfather clock that he wound religiously every Monday morning; it sounds every 15 minutes to this day. Through the years, he never called a repairman, preferring to fix every appliance, broken window, and vehicle himself. As recently as this summer, he replaced the alternator in his car.

Despite his modest height, Dr. McCoy was a good athlete and loved to play basketball. He could see the court and set up shots as well as anyone. An avid runner, Dr. McCoy participated in road races across the Island well into his seventies, often finishing first in his age group. He also enjoyed traveling and hiking. He backpacked the Long Trail through Vermont and covered long stretches of the Appalachian Trail. He traveled the globe with Joan, from China to Africa to New Zealand and at age 89 went to Machu Picchu in Peru.

After retirement, Dr. McCoy volunteered his time with the NY-NJ Trail Conference, including maintaining the Red Trail in New Jersey. With Joan, he transported and bagged food donations for Our Lady of Good Counsel's food pantry for years. And he served on the board of the Center School, a school for neurodivergent students in Somerset, NJ.

Dr. McCoy is survived by his wife Joan, his son Michael (Bonni) of Brooklyn, NY; his daughter Theresa (Jim) of Macon, GA; his son Jim of Upper Saddle River, NJ; his daughter Kelly (Harold) of Panama; his daughter Melissa of Denver, CO; and his daughter Sarah (Marcos) of Staten Island; his three sisters, Katie, Kelly, and Tootie; 12 grandchildren; and five great grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his sister, Susan.

Visitation at Harmon Funeral Home, 571 Forest Avenue, Staten Island, Friday, October 23, 2026, 3pm-7pm.

Funeral Mass at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, 10 Austin Place, Staten Island, Saturday, October 24, 2026, 10am.

Private interment at St Peter's Cemetery following Mass.