COOPERSTOWN, NEW YORK – Herbert James Kozak, Jr., known to everyone as Jim, of Cooperstown, New York, passed away at Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown on Thursday, December 4, 2025. He was 83.
Born March 25, 1942, at Martha Washington Hospital in
Chicago, Illinois, Jim was the son of Herbert James Kozak, Sr. and Therese Marie
(Fischer) Kozak. He was raised in Des Plaines, Illinois.
After high school, Jim attended art school and worked in the hotel business. He worked his way up the ladder at Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles, Illinois, and later went on to be Catering Manager at Sawmill Creek Resort in Sandusky, Ohio, and finally became the Director of Conference Services at The Otesaga Resort Hotel in Cooperstown, New York, where he worked until retirement.
Jim’s hobby was sketching and painting and his house was decorated with some of his artwork. His family home in Des Plaines, Illinois, contained a lovely scenic mural covering a living room wall painted by Jim. In the words of his gracious employer, Jane Clark, “Jim was incredibly kind and a gentleman to the core.” He enjoyed cherished time with former co-worker and dear friend, Josie Bliss, whose family also embraced him. Matthew Boyles became his health care proxy in his final aging years. Several others in the Cooperstown area who are not named here are appreciated for their kindness toward him as well.
Jim is survived by his brother-in-law Jack Dellorto, nephews Jack (Kumi) Dellorto, Mike (Janet) Dellorto, his niece Mary (Rey) Elizondo all of Aurora, Illinois and his nephew Dan (Gail) Dellorto of Bryant, Arkansas, as well as nine great nieces & nephews and seven great-great nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Barbara Dellorto and nephew Jim Dellorto.
His remains will be interred with those of his parents at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Sarasota, Florida.
