James V. Joyce
May 29, 1927 – February 24, 2014
A self-made man and doting father . . .
Visitation:
Thursday, February 27, 2014
Friday, February 28, 2014
James V. Joyce Residence
Funeral Service:
Saturday, February 28, 2014
Blessed Sacrament Church
Interment:
Military Honors
Gate of Heaven Cemetery
James Vincent Joyce, born May 29, 1927, of 839 State Route 417, Andover, NY, passed away peacefully at his home on Monday, Feb. 24, 2014.
Mr. Joyce was born in the town of Willing, N.Y; the eldest of six children born to the late Vincent James Joyce and Alice Graves Joyce. He grew up on the family farm in Andover and, having left high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving in Germany with the Occupation Forces. Showing an early entrepreneurial spirit, he was put in charge of a number of PX stores which soon began to show a profit. He made the acquaintance of a young German woman, Helma Petermann, who was working as a translator. They were married in 1948 in Garmisch Partenkirchen, Germany shortly before his return to the United States.
Upon his return, he and his brother, Charles, formed a gas and oil pipeline, Joyce Pipeline. In many ways Mr. Joyce embodied the perfect example of the post war American dream. A truly self-made man, he learned to fly both airplanes and helicopters, using them to survey his expanding pipeline business which would eventually extend from Canada, through the United States, and include Central America and Venezuela. The Alaskan pipeline, in which the pipeline company played a large part in constructing, was a highlight of his career. He even traveled to Iran before the fall of the Shah to investigate pipeline construction there but, fortunately, decided against it. He and his wife visited Cuba several times before the rise of the Castro regime and made frequent trips to Mexico. He subsequently developed a love of all things “Latino”, especially the food and music. He even arranged to bring his favorite Mariachi Band from Laredo, Texas to perform at his youngest daughter’s wedding.
In the pursuit of his many interests in the energy sector he invested in coal mining in West Virginia and Kentucky and was an early proponent of replacing Uranium in nuclear reactors with the more efficient rare earth, Thorium; a trend that continues to this day. A lifelong republican, he was never the less, invited to attend both the Kennedy and Nixon inaugural balls.
Starting in 1948 using a Fordson Tractor with a Backhoe attachment, Joyce started his career as a pipeline Contractor. Along with maintaining his local milk hauling route in the Andover area, Joyce started laying small pipelines for local oil producers and gas companies. As the pipeline business progressed Joyce took on more work and with the help of his brothers Charles and later Don, Joyce Pipeline employed over 200 people by the late fifty’s. Joyce utilized local people from the Andover area to provide the dedication and hard work to progress as a company. By the late 60’s Joyce Western had grown to over 1200 fulltime and seasonal employees, expanding into a multi-operation. Never forgetting his home town roots, Joyce was influential in providing the supports for progress in Allegany County, NY. He was instrumental in building the Andover Little League complex and the relocation of the Wellsville Airport to where it is now. Joyce was a self-taught airplane and helicopter pilot of which he always had a helicopter setting in his front lawn, ready to go as needed. Joyce spent hours in the air traveling from job to job in his airplane. As Joyce Western expanded, he started building and operating pipelines throughout the Unites States and performed contracting help in Alaska and Australia.
Some of his proud accomplishments were building and operating a fuel pipeline from Tampa to Orlando, Fla.; building and operating a pipeline for SAC Headquarters in Omaha Nebr., a pipeline to bring jet fuel into Mac Dill Air Force Base in New Jersey, another to provide fuel for the Tampa International Airport, followed by a distribution of Anhydrous Ammonia from Port Tampa to the Phosphate Mines in the middle of the state. Joyce’s forward vision of the future energy needs had him mining Thorium in the Idaho mountains. Other major pipeline projects included welding on the Mooba Pipeline in Sydney, Australia; many projects for Consolidated Gas in NY, PA and WV; including a 55 mile segment of 30” pipe in Chambersburg, PA.; over 120 miles of pipe keyed in the Western NY and Northern PA area for Tennessee Gas; building a gas gathering system for Coors Brewers in Golden, Colo.; installing 36” pipe in Red Rivers Crossings in Texas and Oklahoma; gas gathering work for Phillips Petroleum of Bartlesville OK, and numerous projects over the years in the New England area for Algonquin Gas.
Throughout the remainder of his long life, Joyce remained interested in all things having to do with energy production. He was, however, a doting father, grandfather and great grandfather, enjoying every moment in the company of his growing family. Though Helma passed away in 2002, he remained in the home they built together in 1959. During his declining health he was carefully attended to by his caregiver, Betty Matison and dedicated helpers, family and friends.
In addition to his wife, Helma, he was predeceased by his siblings Charles Joyce, W. Donald Joyce, Joan Dibble and Sandra Howland. He is survived by his sister, Mary Ann Davis of Andover; children, Kathleen Joyce (George) Biondo, of Montauk, N.Y., Vincent James (Deborah) Joyce and Christine (Michael J. McCormick) Joyce, both of Andover; grandchildren, Caitlin Biondo (Josh) Greene of Mill Valley, Calif., Georgia Biondo (Thomas) Flight of Montauk, N.Y., James Vincent (Jennifer) Joyce of Andover, Amanda Joyce (Robert) Phelps of Andover, Lindsay Joyce Barnard of Andover, Maria McCormick (Jonathan) Sorrells of Cumming, Ga., and Michael (Mary Beth) McCormick of Angola, N.Y.; great grandchildren, Scarlett, Beatrice and Harry Flight of Montauk, N.Y., Elsa and Connor Greene of Mill Valley, Calif., Vincent and Harper Joyce of Andover, Leigha and Julianna Phelps of Andover, Elle Barnard of Andover, and Jase Sorrells of Cumming, Ga.
Visiting hours will be at the home of James V. Joyce, 839 State Route 417 in Andover from, 7-9 pm Thursday and 2-4 pm and 7-9 pm Friday. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Blessed Sacrament Church in Andover on Saturday at 11 a.m. with Rev. Thomas Roman as celebrant. Burial with full military honors will follow in Gate of Heaven Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers the family has requested donations be made to the Andover Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 726 Andover N.Y, or the Andover Main Street Project, P.O. Box 736, Andover N.Y.
Arrangements are under the direction of Baker-Swan Funeral Home in Andover.
Rest in peace cousin Bob.
You were a good man and lived your life with love and with a truly spiritual connection with the Lord and all those you knew.
As a younger cousin I admired you and your tremendous abilities and positive attitude.
As an adult my admiration and love for you and Barb was shared by my dear wife, Jane.
Both you and Barb have set an inspirational example of what a good marriage should be. With love and best wishes to Barb and the Baker family.
Jim and Jane Greene
Dear Barbara and Family,
I’m deeply sorry. I was so grieved to learn that Mr.Baker has died. Certainly few people were as careful about their health as he was. It
seemed like anytime I asked Colleen about her in laws, they were always happily engaged in sport, travel, ministering to others, or enjoying family time. Such a meaningful life!
I can’t remember a single time when Bob and Barbara seemed discouraged. His faith was evident without having to say a single word.
I can imagine that these are dark and confusing days. Why him? Why now? It doesn’t seem fair.
Mr. Baker raised the bar for all christian men and husbands. He left a legacy of love that is worthy of respect.
You will be in my prayers for a peace that surpasses all understanding,
Dear Barb and Family,
Graciela and I praise the Lord for Bob’s life and for his testimony of a man full of faith and love for God and for people!
We have enjoyed very much every moment we have been with you at your home and both of you have been such a blessing and an encouragement for us!
We love you so much Barb and pray for God’s comfort and
strength in your life and your entire family!
Ruben and Graciela Matos
Word of Life Peru
Dear Barb and family-I extend my most sincere condolences for your loss. One word keeps coming to mind when I reflect on Bob:,Decency. He was one of the most decent people I have been privileged to know. He never failed to greet you with a smile and a confidence of his own being. He was a model for all to aspire to. Bob will always be remembered as an exemplary person.Your message
Dear Barb and Family,
I want to send my sincere condolences for your loss. Coach Bob Baker had many good traits and attributes. Though he and I did not spend a lot of time together through the years, we were always in each other’s thoughts and memory. From 6th grade in 1962 to the present, I considered Coach Baker my mentor and inspiration. Coach Baker had a tremendous influence on my future and success, as not only a teacher and coach, but as a human being and parent. I wonder what my path would have been without the influence of Bob Baker. It shows that one person can make a tremendous influence on another individual. May God enrich Bob’s soul and best wishes to his family.
Coach Don Baker
I am so sorry for your loss. The good news is you know where he is going. I have many memories of Uncle Bob and Aunt Barb at family get togethers and adventures we had with my grandparents growing up. He will be truly missed.
Condolences to all the Baker family. Although I hadn’t seen him in years, I remember him from my younger days- he was an amazing man. My sister Pat was very good friends with Mrs Baker in college and beyond. May he Rest In Peace and your memories be cherished
Dear cousin Barb,
I know our Lord said, “well done thou good and faithful servant” to Bob as he left this temporary life.
May our Lord bless you mightily as you wait to be united
. Love, Andy
Barb- We are so saddened to read of the passing of Bob. What a wonderful man he was. It was always a joy to serve at Family Life events with both of you. We are thankful for the opportunity to get to know both of you as we served at FLN. Bob’s love of Jesus certainly always shown through in his life and he always radiated the joy of the Lord! Our prayers are with you.
Steve-Cynthia
Dear Barb,
We are so very, very sorry to learn of Bob’s passing in the latest Alfred Sun, which just arrived in the mail. You and Bob have always been such an important part of the history we shared at Alfred-Almond Central School and for all the years since then. You were both so welcoming to Carol that she never felt like an outsider, and I was proud to be able to introduce her to both of you. You were a wonderful team and we cherish the memories of the too-few times we spent together, usually around the time of those amazing AACS reunions. With great admiration and love.
Barb & Family,
Please accept my condolences. I was saddened to hear of Bob’s passing. He was a very sweet man who had a great faith and love for God & his family. He will be greatly missed by those who knew him and by those whose lives he touched. My thoughts & prayers are with all of you during this difficult time. God Bless each one of you. Hugs.
Dear Barb and Baker Family,
The world just seems a little less bright without Bob’s light. So thankful to have met a man of such valor, gentleness and integrity. He imparted wisdom and grace whenever I saw him… whether on his way to an important meeting or playing with his great-grand daughter, he took a minute to exchange greetings. He will be greatly missed but his legacy will live on in the lives he touched. Counting myself thankful that mine was one of them. I am so sorry for the loss of this precious man. Love and blessings to his family.❤️