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D. James “Jim” Gifreda, 77, of Worthington, died peacefully at home May 27, 2016.
Born in Lorain on March 28, 1939, he was a son of James H. and Eleanor M. Holfelder Gifreda.
He was a graduate of Berea High School, Bowling Green State University and Kent State University. He enjoyed telling people that his master’s degree was mailed to him during the riots at Kent State. He served proudly for six years in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve.
Jim lived a life of public service. He worked as an industrial arts teacher and for the Ohio Department of Education as a supervisor of vocational programs for special needs children. He served as a trustee for Clinton Worship. After retiring, Jim went through police training and worked as a police officer for the city of Powell and for Clinton Township. He was a member of the Fraternal Order of Police Associates.
As W8MAP (formerly WB8YUS), he was a dedicated amateur radio operator, devoting many hours to public safety and emergency communications activities. He was a life member of the Central Ohio Radio Club and served as membership chair, newsletter editor and trustee for many years. He was also a member of the American Radio Emergency Service and the Champaign-Logan Amateur Radio Club.
For almost 15 years, Jim lived in rural Logan County, near Middleburg, and enjoyed life in farm country immensely. He hung out at the post office, helped the neighbors erect a grain bin, and took the grandchildren for tractor rides. When the time came to move back to the city, Jim took his tractor with him and parked it in the back yard. That first winter he plowed the street and the neighbors’ driveways. If any of them thought the tractor was an eyesore, they kept it to themselves.
Jim is survived by his first wife and mother of his children, Noëlle W. Gifreda of Dayton and by his last wife, Martha L. Gifreda of Columbus; two daughters, Laura (Jan Crawley) of Basin, Mont., and Karen (David) Johns of Dayton; a son, James R. (Carolyn) Gifreda of Cincinnati; a stepdaughter, Jane M. (Robert) O’Shaughnessy of Columbus; 10 grandchildren; two sisters, Joan (Charles) Pendergast of Harrisburg, N.C., and Gayle (Edward) Labuda of Macungie, Pa.; friends, Joas Mutabirwa and Melinda Schroeder; and the loving staff of Sunrise Senior Living of Worthington.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Central Ohio Radio Club, P.O. Box 166, Sunbury, OH 43074.
Visitation is one hour prior to a memorial service and reception at 1 p.m. Saturday, June 18, at the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Columbus, 93 W. Weisheimer Road, Columbus.
Arrangements were handled by Schoedinger Worthington Chapel, 6699 N. High St., where memories and condolences may be expressed at www.schoedinger.com.