James W. Gabeler

James W. Gabeler, 63, of Mayfield, NY, passed on December 13, 2011 surrounded by his loved ones at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in Manhattan. He was the son of Sally S. Gabeler, and the late William R. Gabeler. Jim graduated Gloversville High School in 1966. He played varsity baseball and varsity football. During his senior year, the fall of 1965, he was the quarterback and co-captain of the football team. That year, they won the Western Conference Championship. Jim took great pride in sharing stories of their triumph over the undefeated Scotia team. Jim was a graduate of New York State College at Brockport. He received his master's degree in education. He had recently retired from teaching middle school science for 38 years at Wheelerville Union Free School in Caroga Lake, NY. Jim influenced the lives of countless young people in the community through his devotion as a teacher and coach. While teaching at Wheelerville, he coached basketball, baseball, and football. He also taught girls as young as fourth grade to play volleyball, and was still coaching the Wheelerville girls' volleyball team at the time of his death. He founded the Caroga Lake Volleyball Club in 1990. Since then, the club has flourished, and has become a highly successful force in USA Volleyball. Many of his players receive scholarships to play volleyball on college teams. He will be sorely missed by his volleyball families. Jim was the biggest sports fan around. He loved attending sporting events at all levels, from local youth leagues to the NY Mets and Giants. He instilled this love in everyone close to him. He took great pride in teaching his grandson Patrick to be a switch-hitter and knuckleball pitcher before the age of three and teaching his granddaughter Grace to swim. Survivors include son Chris Gabeler of Mayfield, NY; daughter Amanda Gabeler-Walsh Jerry of Rochester, NY; daughter Dr. Emily Gabeler Eric of Tuckahoe, NY; mother Sally Gabeler of Melbourne, FL; sister Nancy Gabeler of Melbourne, FL; brother Thomas Gabeler Linda of Melbourne, FL; former wife Cathy Gabeler of Gloversville, NY; companion Shar Wager of Caroga Lake, NY, and her children Dallas, Kylie, and Connor; grandchildren Patrick Walsh, Grace Walsh, Brandon Heroth, and Logan Gurga; and numerous beloved nephews, nieces, and cousins. Jim lived life to the fullest. His greatest joy was his family. He will be remembered for his love of fun and laughter, his kind heart, and his insatiable zest for life. He was irreplaceable, and his loss will leave a void in the hearts of everyone who was lucky enough to have known him. Family and friends are invited and may call Sunday from 2 to 5 p.m. at Walrath & Stewart Funeral Home, 51 Fremont Street, Gloversville, NY 12078. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at Foothills United Methodist Church with Reverend Cynthia Van Allen presiding. Contributions may be made to the Caroga Lake Volleyball Club or the Colorectal Cancer division of the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065.