Say the name James Dollard and many faces in the Honeoye Falls-Lima community will instantly light up.
Mr. James Frederick Dollard, Sr. was not only a much respected and beloved principal at HF-L High School, but a man greatly admired in the community where he worked but also in the community of Caledonia where he lived. Mr. Dollard passed away on Wednesday, January 20, 2016 at his home in Caledonia at age 81.
Born in Albany, Mr. Dollard was the youngest of four children born to William and Alice (Mitchell) Dollard. He was a proud graduate of Vincentian Institute who went on to study at Mount St. Mary’s University in Maryland. After serving a stint in the Army (stationed in Germany), he returned to Albany to complete his graduate studies and begin a career in teaching and school administration. His work with students and teachers was a constant source of joy and meaning for him. He believed in the transformative possibilities of a good education and he was determined to see everyone do their best.
Mr. Dollard and his wife, Anne, and their six children moved to Caledonia in 1971. At the time, he was working in the Greece School District. Shortly after the move to Caledonia, Mr. Dollard was hired to be the Middle School principal in the Honeoye Falls-Lima school district in 1972. A mutual admiration ensued and for the next 20 years the HF-L community and Mr. Dollard brought out the very best in one another. He was named the Middle School/High School principal in 1976 and the High School principal in 1977. His time in HF-L was marked by great school spirit, celebrations of student talents and achievements, pursuit of common, student-centered goals by a dedicated faculty and staff and the support of a grateful community.
“Jim was the salt of the school district,” said Superintendent Gene Mancuso. “When I came here, he talked to me alot about civic pride and was very instrumental in teaching me the importance of the district and how it helped unify two communities. We had numerous conversations over the past few years.”
Mr. Dollard never took individual credit as the high school’s achievements brought the district honors and respect throughout the state. He always maintained that any success he had in HF-L was the result of valuable lessons he learned from great leaders in the Greece schools of the 1960s like Paul Fauth, Lou Basile, George Baird and many others.
When he retired from the school district in 1992, the community and district showed their respect and admiration by naming the high school stadium for him. After his retirement, Mr. Dollard was one of the principal organizers of the HF-L Alumni Hall of Fame, which seeks to honor those graduates of Honeoye Falls High School, Lima High School and HF-L High School who have served their communities, the state, the nation and the world. District leaders and other members of the alumni committee thought so highly of him and his work for the district that he was inducted into Hall of Fame in 2007 for his special contributions to the district even though he was not a graduate. This was high praise that left him humbled.
“Jim took his responsibilities seriously, but had a great sense of humor,” said John Recktenwald, who was a high school teacher when Mr. Dollard was principal and also worked with him in the Alumni Hall of Fame Committee. “He was a terrific prinicpal and a teacher’s administrator, but if you screwed up, he would privately let you know about it.”
His legacy is not the result of great wealth or fame but rather one of good deeds, service to others and modeling how to be a father, uncle, brother, grandparent, friend and co-worker for others. Because the adage “actions speak louder than words” remains so valid, his legacy will be seen in the many folks he influenced and inspired who follow his example and do good work in the world.
Mr. Dollard was predeceased by his wife Anne two years ago. He is survived by their six kids, Bill (Lynn) of Albany, James, Jr (Ronda) of New Port Richey, FL, Michael (Betsy) of Albany, Kristin Sturiale (Steve) of Baltimore, MD, Matthew (Laurie) of Caledonia and Mark (Terrie) of Telluride, CO; and 19 grandchildren – Packy, Moira, Liam, Michelle, Jessica, Melissa, Ellen, Jack, Elizabeth, Zachary, Christopher, Nicholas, Sean, Rachael, Matthew, Eric, Christopher and Dominick.
Friends may call Friday, January 29, 2016 from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. at St. Columba Church, 198 North Street, Caledonia. His funeral Mass will be held Saturday, January 30, 2016 at 10 a.m. at St. Columba Church. Interment will be at St. Columba Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family would ask that donations be made in the name of James F. Dollard, Sr. to either Patrick Place, 99 Main Street, P.O. Box 73, Scottsville, NY 14546 or Livingston County Catholic Charities, 34 E. Main Street, Mt. Morris, NY 14510. Arrangements are by Alhart Funeral Home, 3068 West Main Street, Caledonia.
