He was a true (navy) blue Yankees fan who loved talking about his kids, enjoying Italian food and living his Catholic faith.
James “Jim” Veshia, a custodial repair and supply specialist in the Facilities department, died suddenly the morning of October 24 while working an early shift in Padua Hall. He was 57.
He joined the Facilities team in February 2021, and his co-workers said he will be remembered from his short time here for his sense of humor and his diligence as an employee.
“He was a very friendly guy, and he always spoke his mind” said Patrick Kelley, assistant custodial supervisor.
Reiné Morgan, custodial supervisor, and Kimberly Houle, Snyder Hall building captain, said Jim was always very professional and would volunteer for extra shifts and was proud of learning new job skills. Mark Frost, assistant vice president for facilities management, said the word “conscientious” best defined Jim as an employee.
“He was always dedicated to doing a good job, and making sure people knew he was doing his best for them,” with Morgan adding, “Sometimes he would say ‘You’re getting your money’s worth from me today!’ when he was working hard at something.”
The team said Jim really enjoyed sharing news about his three children: Joshua and Kelly, who are now adults, and 12-year-old Makayla.
“Makayla was into gymnastics and he was there at every one of her meets,” said Kelley.
Jim’s campus friendships also extended beyond his co-workers. Victor Gelfuso ‘23 first met him when Jim’s office was two doors down from his room in Ryan Hall. They saw each other every morning and frequently attended daily Mass together at the Chapel. They often talked about their Catholic faith and favorite pastimes of music, baseball, and food. Their shared pasta passion resulted in a few jaunts to favorite local Italian eateries.
“Jim had a great sense of humor and was always cheerful - the kind of person who brought positivity everywhere he went,” said Gelfuso. “He was a generous, hardworking, and faithful man, and I am grateful that we became friends in the short time we got to know each other.”
Campus Chaplain Fr. Larry Anderson, O.F.M., saw Jim when he attended Mass daily in the Chapel, clad in his Siena Facilities logo attire.
“I noticed that he would say a prayer each time before receiving the Body of Christ,” said Fr. Larry. “Jim was a man of faith who made a lasting impression at Siena. Br. Ed Coughlin once said, ‘The saints are the good people. When good people get to heaven, they become angels; they are the ones who carry the fire.’
“Jim will always be a Siena Saint. He was one of the good ones and now he is an angel carrying the fire and his light shines brightly.”
Siena plans to plant a tree in Jim’s memory next spring between Ryan Hall and Padua Hall, the buildings where he worked most frequently.
His co-workers shared that Jim was known as “the Mayor of Watervliet,” given his years coaching youth sports there and making pizza at Papa's Restaurant, the Purple Pub and Joey's Pizza. Jim attended Troy High School, served in the U.S. Army, and was employed for many years by the Center for Disability Services in Albany as a resident manager and clinical assistant.
As a die-hard Yankees fan (favorite player: Thurman Munson) he made taking loved ones on their first trip to Yankee Stadium a family rite of passage. To honor his love for the Bronx Bombers, his family wore Yankees jerseys to Jim’s calling hours; Jim was casketed in a pinstriped jersey with his cap.