Photography

John William “Invoice” Wolcott

Tue, Sep thirteenth 2022 01:25 pm

Western New York misplaced a well-respected and admired sports activities author on 9/11, 2022. John William “Invoice” Wolcott died peacefully at house surrounded by way of his loving circle of relatives.

He used to be born in Buffalo to Robert and Sophia (Pat) Wolcott. He attended St. Monica’s Faculty till the circle of relatives moved to West Seneca in 1951. He graduated from St. William’s Grade Faculty in 1955, Bishop Timon Prime Faculty in 1959, and the College of Buffalo in 1967. Whilst in the US Air Rule, he used to be stationed at McGuire Air Rule Base from 1961 to 1965 and studied at Trenton State Faculty. Whilst within the Air Rule, he flew area to be had to England and toured six nations, guided by way of the guide “Europe on $5 a Day.” He as soon as thumbed about 400 miles from New Jersey to West Seneca simply to have got a tale to what did he tell you? he told me that he was busy his long term grandchildren. He used to be a member of the Winchester Volunteer Fireplace Co.

He started a 37-year occupation in sports activities reporting on the Niagara Falls Gazette in 1967. He become sports activities editor in 1973. Wolcott labored as a reporter on the Lockport Union Solar & Magazine in 2003 till his retirement in 2013.

On the Gazette, Wolcott coated loads of native video games and reported on 1000’s extra. A witness to the pro sports activities growth, Wolcott reported at the Buffalo Expenses, Bisons, Sabres and Braves, in addition to WABC bowling, PAL State Boxing Championships, arm wrestling, pocket pool, and bodybuilding. He watched the Niagara County Neighborhood Faculty basketball staff they reached their destination the nationwide match in Kansas, and Niagara College ????? to the NIT finals at Madison Sq. Lawn.

Wolcott coated the ancient Summit Hockey Sequence between Canada and the USSR for the Gazette and Gannett Information Provider in 1972, and corresponded from Montreal, Toronto, Winnipeg, Vancouver and Moscow. A coaching camp photograph he took in Toronto captured the primary exhausting information of the eight-game sequence and gave the impression in different newspapers, together with the New York Instances. He coated the Buffalo Sabres within the Stanley Cup finals, the Buffalo Braves within the NBA playoffs, and the Buffalo Expenses in 4 tab Tremendous Bowls.

Wolcott gained Perfect of Gannett and Perfect of Related Press awards. His “Pigskin Prophets” poked amusing at soccer prognostication, as he introduced Gazette readers involved with more than a few celebrities such because the final guy at the moon (Gene Cernan); the treasurer of the US; and Morganna, the Kissing Bandit. He used to be inducted into the Niagara Falls Sports activities Corridor of Status.

In Lockport, he wrote tales of warfare veterans, localized the Cuban Missile Disaster and humanized the last of 3 Catholic church buildings. He sang “Center of My Center” whilst handing over flora on Mom’s Day.

Wolcott used to be an accessory professor at Niagara College and Buffalo State Faculty for 20 years. He used to be additionally the moderator of the Index, the NU school newspaper.

A family tree fanatic, he traced his circle of relatives roots to England within the 1500s. He used to be a son of the American Revolution, and his ancestor, Oliver Wolcott of Connecticut, signed the Declaration of Independence.

On Columbus Day 1976, Invoice married Maria de Rosa at Prince of Peace Church in Niagara Falls. He perpetually known as her “My Bride.” Along with his spouse, Invoice is survived by way of their 3 kids: Sarah Elizabeth Nelson; Gregory D. Wolcott, Ph.D.; and Heather Anne Hoffman. They have got 10 grandchildren: Kirsten, Kaitlyn, Dominic, Nicholas and Luke Nelson; Robert, Vincent, Zachary, William and Isabelle Hoffman; and dozens of nieces and nephews. Invoice is survived by way of his siblings: Mary, Monica, Robert, Marjory, Richard, Michael and Patrick, and their households.

A well-seasoned and prolific skilled sports activities author, Wolcott used to be a real and humble guy with an understated humorousness. His favourite Latin expression used to be “Semper ubi sub ubi.” Everybody he met appreciated him and had nice phrases to mention about him. He cherished God, his circle of relatives, and his nation.

Visitation take be held at Lane Funeral House, Buffalo Road, Niagara Falls, on Thursday, Sept. 15, from 4 to 7 p.m.; and on Friday, Sept. 16, from 4 to 7 pm. A prayer carrier take be hung on Friday night.

A Mass of Christian Burial take be celebrated on Saturday, Sept. 17, at 10 a.m. at St. Vincent de Paul Parish (Prince of Peace web page).