IN MEMORIAM: Jim Konstanty;
Key Player As County Attorney
ONEONTA – James Edward Konstanty, 73, who was a formidable player in county affairs while serving for two decades as county attorney, legal adviser to the county Board of Representatives, died suddenly on Friday, April 3, 2015, in Pinehurst, N.C., after a round of golf with son Michael.
He was born Feb. 26, 1942 in Jamestown, the eldest son of Jim Konstanty, who played with the Philadelphia Phillies, then ran a sporting goods store on Main Street for decades, and Mary (Burlingame) Konstanty.
Young Jim grew up in Worcester and attended Worcester Central School through the 9th grade. He graduated from Oneonta High School in 1960 and was an active part of the football, basketball and baseball teams. He was due to be inducted into the OHS Athletic Hall of Fame this October.
After graduating from OHS, he graduated from Cornell University in 1964, and received his law degree from Syracuse University School of Law in 1967. He first practiced with Turk, Truman & Bishop in Owego, hen joined the Leamy, VanWoert & Dunn in Oneonta in 1969 before opening his own practice at 252 Main St.
He was town attorney for Oneonta and Davenport. He was a member of the Otsego County Bar Association, the state Bar Association, the American Trial Lawyers Association and the county Republican Party.
Jim was also a member of the First United Methodist Church, the Oneonta Country Club, Kiwanis and the Oneonta Elks Club, and volunteered his talents for many area organizations including the Oneonta Little League, Youth Soccer and the 1989 Otsego County Bicentennial.
Always active and on the go, he loved playing sports while in school and in later years he took up golf, tennis, skiing and boating. However, his favorite activity was supporting his children in their athletic endeavors, and later watching his grandchildren play football, soccer, baseball, and basketball and enjoying their plays, dance and piano recitals. Favorite family memories include Member Guest golf with his sons, fishing trips to Cape Cod, golf anywhere and everywhere, Aspen ski trips, and boating on Otsego Lake.
He is survived by his wife, Irene Helen (Baker) Konstanty; their daughter, Kristin (Konstanty) Maher, her husband, Hunter, and their sons, Layne and Chase of Matthews, N.C.; and their son, Michael Konstanty of Charlotte, N.C. He is also survived by his three sons from his first marriage, James John and Maribeth (Allison) Konstanty, their children, Jacquelyn Mary (Jackie) and James John, Jr (Jimmy) of Fairfield, Conn..; Daniel and Lori (Stern) Konstanty and their children, Grace and Joseph of Melrose, Mass.; and Jared Andrew and Kelly Ann (Mitchell) Konstanty, and their children, Andrew John and Colin Michael of Westport, Conn. Other survivors include his sister, Helen Irene (Konstanty) Rees and her husband, David of Oneonta. He is also survived by numerous cousins around the country.
He was predeceased by his parents, Jim Konstanty (1976) and Mary Konstanty (2007) and his brother, Robert Konstanty (1947).
Calling hours will be 5-7 p.m. Thursday, April 9, at the Lewis, Hurley & Pietrobono Funeral Home, 51 Dietz Street, Oneonta.
A memorial service and celebration of Jim’s life will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, April 10 at at the First United Methodist Church, 66 Chestnut Street, Oneonta.
Burial will be private at the Maple Grove Cemetery in Worcester.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Jim’s memory to the Oneonta High School Athletic Department, care of Joseph Hughes, Athletic Director, 130 East Street, Oneonta, NY 13820.
Expressions of sympathy may be made at, www.lhpfuneralhome.com
Arrangements are entrusted to the Lewis, Hurley & Pietrobono Funeral Home.