James Myers Wyckoff

James Myers Wyckoff was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey on November 5, 1943 to the late Wilbur and Minnie Wyckoff. He was raised in Bedminster, NJ. with his older sister, Ruth Slezak with whom he was very close. Mr. Wyckoff was a 1961 graduate of Bernards High School and later attended West Virginia Institute of Technology, graduating with a double major in mathematics and music in 1965.

Jim obtained an amateur radio license at the age of 12 and held the amateur extra license for over 30 years; his call letters were K3BT. After teaching mathematics and playing with the Charlston Symphony Orchestra for a year, Jim answered the call to military service by enlisting in the U.S. Navy as a musician in 1967. During his first enlistment he went to South America and became a Shellback as the ship crossed the equator. He spent the last year of his enlistment assigned to the NORAD Commanders in Colorado Springs.

Mr. Wyckoff re-enlisted in 1971 for a tour of duty in Naples, Italy where he met and married his wife of almost 46 years, Theresa in 1973.  During his tour in Naples, he also obtained his Masters in Education from Boston University. In 1974 he was assigned to the US Naval Academy Band in Annapolis , Maryland. He reached the pinnacle of his Navy music career being selected to join the U.S. Navy Band Jazz Ensemble, The Commodores, in 1977 as  trombone soloist and arranger. He retired from the Navy in 1988, having given 21 years to service of his country and having attained the rank of Chief Petty Officer.

After retiring from the Navy, Mr. Wyckoff returned to teaching mathematics and electronics. He continued to play trombone with local groups and had several trombone students in the area. He also worked as an electronics equipment repairman.

Jim is survived by his wife Theresa, daughter Jaimie Marie Camden, son Nicholas Randolph Wyckoff, his beloved granddaughter, Isabella Camden, five nieces, a nephew, and their eight children.

He passed away peacefully at his home on January 7, 2019 and will be greatly missed by all who knew him.