| Date of Birth | March 20, 1930 |
| Date Deceased | December 31, 2023 |
| Hometown | Hornell |
| Home State | N.Y. |
| Service Date | January 8, 2024 |
| Service Time | 10 a.m. |
| Service Location | St. Ann's Church, Hornell |
| Interment Location | St. Mary's Cemetery, Town of Fremont |
James E. Tobin
HORNELL – James E. Tobin, 93, of Sawyer Street, passed away early Sunday afternoon (Dec. 31, 2023) at Elderwood at Hornell, after a long illness.
Born in Hancock, NY on March 20, 1930, he was a son of the late Neil and Marjorie (Schaffer) Tobin. On Oct. 13, 1956 he was married at St. John’s Church in Susquehanna, PA to Arlene E. (Westfall) Tobin, who predeceased him just two months ago on Oct. 31, 2023. Besides his parents and wife, he was also predeceased by his stepmother, Vera Tobin; a special aunt, Dorothy Schaffer; one sister, Marilyn Sharretts and one brother, Jack Tobin.
A graduate of Hancock Central School, Jim also attended Alfred State College and proudly served his country with the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict from 1951 to his honorable discharge in 1953.
He was a former resident of Binghamton, NY and has resided in Hornell since 1958 where he was employed with the former Erie and Erie-Lackawanna Railroads and Conrail as a Chief Train Dispatcher. In 1980 he began his employment with the Bath-Hammondsport Railroad as General Manager, retiring in 1990.
Jim was a member of Our Lady of the Valley Parish and was a communicant of St. Ann’s Church in Hornell and attended the Perpetual Adoration Chapel. He was also a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, a former member of Hornell Council No. 243, Knights of Columbus and a member of the Arthur H. Cunningham American Legion Post No. 440 in Hornell, where he also served as a past Historian.
For eight years he served as an alderman for the second and fifth ward (after reapportionment) for the City of Hornell and served on the Hornell City Housing Authority Board of Directors and was a Steuben County Supervisor for 10 years. He also volunteered for many years as a coach for both Little League Baseball and Biddy Basketball.
An avid Buffalo Bills fan and Hornell High School Boys Soccer fan, Jim enjoyed playing golf and traveling, especially to Myrtle Beach, SC during the winter months. Most of all he loved spending time with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
He is lovingly survived by five children, Robert (Matilda) Tobin of Long Island, NY, Mary Beth (Charles) Purce of Binghamton, NY, Michael (Megan) Tobin of Boston, MA, James (Julie) Tobin of Hornell and Ann (Marty) O’Connor of Monroe, NY; 14 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; three half-brothers, Patrick (Joanne) Tobin of Florida, Terry (Joan) Tobin of Beacon, NY and David (Margaret) Tobin of California; as well as several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Calling hours are 2-5 p.m. Sunday (Jan. 7, 2024) at the Bishop-Johnson & DeSanto Funeral Home, 285 Main St., Hornell. Relatives and friends are invited to join his family at St. Ann’s Church, 31 Erie Ave., Hornell where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday (Jan. 8, 2024). Committal prayers and interment, with military honors, will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Town of Fremont.
The United State flag and the Army flag will proudly fly at the Bishop-Johnson & DeSanto Funeral Home in recognition of Jim’s military service.
In lieu of flowers, those wishing may contribute in his memory to St. Ann’s Church of Our Lady of the Valley Parish, 31 Erie Ave., Hornell, NY 14843. Envelopes for memorial contributions will be available at the funeral home.
The family would like to express a special Thank You to the staff of Cranberry Lane at Elderwood at Hornell for the excellent care that Jim received.
The Bishop-Johnson & DeSanto Funeral Home is honored to assist Jim’s family with the arrangements.
Online condolences or remembrances of Jim are welcome below in the comment section or on the Facebook page of Bishop-Johnson & DeSanto Funeral Home.
It was my pleasure to have cared for you for a brief time, may you now rest in peace. You leave behind a wonderful legacy in such a caring loving family. God bless.
A true gentleman, no finer man have I had the honor of knowing. A man proud of his service to country and community. A dedicated citizen, husband, father , grandfather. May Jim Rest In Peace. May the Angels guide him to Arlene in Paradise.
Only a few of us will understand this JOKE…nicest couple in the world!!…… The Prior family owned STUBBY’S TAVERN in Hornell NY. The Tobin couple would come in for Fish Fries usually EVERY !! Friday night. One evening The Tobin’s came for dinner and drinks! WE WERE PACKED!!!! The Tobin’s told me they had, of course, reservations. I searched high and low for this reservation…not found…hhhhmmmm. I asked for the name on the reservation, and THEY, told me the name was under BENSON…which happened to be the name on the table,in front of them!!! Thank God the Benson’s never showed up!!! And from then on, to me, they were known as the Benson’s!! THEY WERE MY!! FAVORITES ON FRIDAY NIGHT. I am so sad about their loses…May God keep you in his hands. I WILL NEVER FORGET THEM💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕
Mr & Mrs Tobin were such nice people. I was glad I was able to have him as a coach in Little League, such a kind soul.
You are all in our thoughts and prayers
My condolences to the Tobin family. Sorry to hear of Jim’s passing. I can not think of ever knowing 2 nicer people than Jim and Arlene Tobin. The world was a better place when both of them were here. They will both be missed.
Jim, Julie and family. So sorry to hear of your Dad’s passing. A fine man he was. Enjoyed working with him. playing golf and shooting the breeze. May he RIP with your Mom!
Biff & Jeana Berry
My sincere sympathies are extended to you, Julie, and your family! The tributes to him are certainly heart warming. My prayers are with you all! ❤️
Such a wonderful Gentlemen, Always enjoyed He & Arlene coming into the Former Big Elms, and now the Italian Villa. I grew up with Mary Beth & Chuck, who adored her parents. My Heart goes out to all of the Tobin Family at this time, and if I can do anything to help, please let me know.
God Bless this wonderful couple Re-united at last. Tom Drumm
Jim, I’m so sorry for the loss of your parents. They were very special people, I always thought of them through out the years with great fondness. I remember many good times spent with them at the Big Elms happy hours. Prayers to you and your family.
Jeannie DeVinney
I did not have the pleasure of knowing James Tobin. I do however know his son, Bob and wife Matilda. my sincere condolences to them and their family. James Tobin left a beautiful legacy in the persons of Bob and Matilda and their children and grandchildren.
My prayers and condolence to Jim, And all the Tobin family! Your mom and dad were a kind and wonderful couple, they were members of golf course for a long time and were sadly missed when they were unable to play golf anymore, I enjoyed visiting with them when they came in for a hotdog 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
I am so sorry to hear of Jim’s passing. What a wonderful, kind man. I hope he and Arlene are together again and at peace with God. My sympathy to the family. God bless you all.
Arlene was my cousin and I was her attendant when she married Jim. IT was a crisp day in Susquehanna, PA . Of all the cousins, Arlene and I were the closest. Jim and she were the perfect couple. I loved being in their presence because there was always fun and laughter. St. Patrick’s Day was a great time since our grandmother was born in Ireland. There was always fun and energy when we got together. As years went by we saw less of Arlene and Jim but a few phone calls a year seemed to make up for lost time. We could pick up right- where we left off and I always knew they were there for me. I asked them to drive to Warsaw when my mother was in her last stages and spend a day with her. As it happened, my mother passed away as they tended to her. I was grateful to them for being there. MY mother loved them both so much. Some people cannot be replaced. Jim and Arlene are among them. I will miss the St. Patrick’s Day card Arlene always sent. I will think of her that day and all the memories of my Irish cousin.
Mr and Mrs Tobin will always hold a special place in my heart. Two of the sweetest and kindest people I’ve ever known. Jim loved to tell us jokes and make everyone’s day a little brighter. Rest in peace Jim and Arlene.