James M. Gubitz

St. Augustine, FL- Born in Albany, NY, Jim Gubitz suddenly left this world while visiting family on Sanibel Island, FL. He was 66 years old. In addition to his wife of almost 22 years, Alison Appleby, who was with him when he passed, Jim leaves many behind. He was many things to many people. He was a husband, a son, brother, uncle, trusted friend and just Jim and Jimmy to so many, including his mother, Evelyn Risley Ray Gubitz of East Nassau, NY; his siblings, Leslie (Tom) Sanford of East Nassau, NY, Laurie (Larry) McGuirk of Niskayuna, NY, and Bill (Sally) Gubitz of Canaan, NY; his siblings-in-law, Ray (Liz) Appleby of DeWitt, NY, and Lorie Appleby of East Nassau, NY; his best friend from kindergarten, Steve (Colleen) Laier of East Nassau, NY; his nieces, nephews and their children, Kate (Sanford), Ed, Brendan and Emma Riley of Sanibel, FL, Johnny, Jeannette and Ruby Sanford of Kennebunk, ME. Anne (Sanford), Ben, Joel and Kayce Douty of Phoenix, AZ, Pete and Elaine McGuirk (expecting their first child) of Burlingame, CA, Erin McGuirk of Saratoga Springs, NY, Dustin Gubitz of East Nassau, NY, Haley Gubitz of Boston, MA, Stephanie (Appleby), Peter, Irene, Brady, PJ and Maddy Sullivan of Monroe, WA, Samantha Appleby of East Syracuse, NY, Catharine Laier of Schenectady, NY, Anne Walker Laier and John, Olivia and Harrison Carpenter of Scotia, NY. He also leaves his hometown New Lebanon, NY friends and extended families, as well as those he met in the Florida Keys, and those he met out exercising somewhere on St. Augustine Beach. Jim was predeceased by many, all of whom he carried in his heart and mind.

Receiving a Bachelors Degree from SUNY Albany in 1981, Jim remained true to the title and was, indeed, a bachelor until February 13, 2003. Much to his hometown community’s surprise, he and Alison married in Nassau, New Providence, Bahamas. Jim was the facilities manager for many years at the Shaker Museum and Library in Old Chatham, NY, which is where he met Alison in the Spring of 2000.

Together they designed and built a home in East Nassau, NY, and during several years of what he had hoped was semi-retirement, Jim helped Alison immensely with her self-employment adventures on many catering gigs and garden work throughout the the Columbia and Berkshire County areas. He even learned to love heavy beer while helping out part-time at Chatham Brew. Jim otherwise spent his days taking care of life’s business, riding his bike, fixing his bike, helping friends, being helped by friends, mowing the lawn diagonally, fixing the mower, tending to the herb gardens, sitting in the sun, building a woodshed and a greenhouse, cooking dinner, rinsing and vacuuming the truck, watching some shows on tv, or cutting, splitting and stacking firewood for the following winter.

Jim loved heading south in the winter and would research and plan key aspects of their trips. In addition to several trips to the Bahamas, he and Alison had escaped to The Florida Keys and the west coast of Mexico for a few winters until they became fully fledged snow birds in 2012, having bought a tiny condo on the edge of Boot Key Harbor in the Middle Keys. In 2018, they decided to move from their northern home in East Nassau and try living full-time in the Keys. Jimmy worked at Burdines Waterfront Marina fuel dock and bait shop, while Ali hustled upstairs at the restaurant serving ice-cold beer to thirsty guests. Every once in awhile they would go to Burdines as customers, suck down some of those ice-cold beers, sing along to some live tunes, and harass their co-workers.

After moving to St. Augustine, FL in 2021 and deciding that this would be home, Jim took on a part-time job tending Beach Access Booths for St. Johns County. This year he decided to become fully retired and, as throughout his entire life, he could be found everyday riding his bike for two, or three, or four hours, often shirtless, and usually on the beach. He would stop whenever he felt like it and soak in the sun and sights, or have a long talk with a new beach buddy. Sometimes he would confess at the end of the day, “My name is Jim. I ride my bike from place to place, and then I rest.”

Multi-faceted and multi-talented, he would often claim to represent the duality of man. Jimmy’s lifelong and truest passion for turkey hunting would get him outside before dawn and then back out at sunset to figure out where all the turkeys went. There would always be an epic storytelling session involving a full re-enactment with all the different turkey calls he tried and what he saw and the thrill of engaging in a conversation with a wild turkey, especially a big gobbler. Sometimes there would be wild turkey to marinate for the grill, and he would share with those closest to him. Deer hunting season would also get him up early and out into the cold to meet his best friends for coffee and sticky buns, and to strategize a plan to at least try to catch a glimpse of the ever-elusive big buck. Equal but different, his love for boating and fishing and all the knowledge he gained with each adventure always brought him great joy wherever he went. Self-described as taking life on in big gulps, his eating and drinking styles reflected that philosophy as well. Jim could hit notes on his harmonica that would make you weep with joy and sometimes pain. He could always be depended on for well informed and animated conversations, kindness, and belly laughs.

Jim did his best to focus his energies on things that are just and kind to help tip the scales away from all that is not, and he has earned a permanent place in countless hearts. To say that he will be missed is as true as it is inadequate.

A Celebration of Life is planned for this coming Springtime in his original hometown area, and anytime you happen to think about him. Jim would tell you all, “No boo-hooing.”

Special thanks to the crew at Sanibel Fire and Rescue District, with a reminder to pay attention to flashing lights and sirens and do the right thing when you are driving. Special thanks also go to the Emergency Room Staff at the Lee Health Park in Fort Myers, FL., and to LifeLink of Florida-Georgia.

Memorial Contributions may be made to: Sanibel Fire and Rescue District. Although this organization does not accept donations outright, gift cards for the crew may be contributed. Food and drink are always a good option. Please send to John DiMaria via email at jdimaria@sanibelfire.com or John DiMaria c/o Sanibel Fire and Rescue, 2351 Palm Ridge Road Sanibel, FL 33957.

Similarly, gift card contributions may be made to Village of East Nassau Emergency Services. Please send to Hoags Corners Ambulance, PO Box 90 East Nassau, NY 12062