James M. 'Pop' Curtis

James M. “Pop” Curtis of Fort Mill, S.C., a former long-time resident of Port Jervis, N.Y., died Friday, March 3, 2017. He was 78.
Son of the late Leo Curtis and Ethel Winfield Curtis, he was born on Sept. 20, 1938, in Port Jervis.
A graduate of Port Jervis High School, he joined the Army in 1957 and served in the 82nd Airborne Division as a paratrooper. He joined the New York State Police in 1962. Always a leader wherever he was stationed, he held ranks of Trooper, Sergeant, Investigator, Lieutenant, Captain and retired as the Staff Inspector in charge of the Governor’s detail in February 1985. He received countless commendations and through his leadership and diplomacy, he reopened the rear access road to Route 17 at the Monroe, N.Y., Station which to this day, is named “Lt. James M. Curtis Way."
After retiring from the State Police, he went to work for the Department of Treasury and from 1985 through 2000, was the Officer in Charge/Chief U.S. Mint Police at the U.S. Bullion Depository at Fort Knox, Ky. In 2000, he became a physical training instructor at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Georgia, when he continued to inspire and motivate those he taught until retiring in 2004.
He earned an associate’s degree with honors in 1961 from Orange County Community College, a bachelor of science degree, magna cum laude, in 1976 from the New York Institute of Technology and graduated from the FBI National Academy. He was a proud member of the Sons of the American Revolution, NRA, the American Legion, and Kentucky Colonels, and was a certified polygraph examiner and licensed fixed wing and helicopter pilot.
A family statement read: “He was a dedicated father, grandfather and pet lover. He was always the life of the party and loved to exercise, walk, run and ride his bike for miles and miles - nothing kept him down. He will be greatly missed."
Surviving is his daughter, Kathy C. Krieger and her husband, Chris C. Krieger, of Tega Cay, S.C.; grandchildren, Matthew C. Krieger and his wife, Aimee P. Krieger, of Conway, S.C., Andrew J. Krieger of Fort Mill, S.C., and longtime girlfriend, Paula L. Murphy of Fort Mill, S.C.; sister, Leah Perry of Greenville, N.Y.; and brothers Joseph Curtis of Port Jervis, and Walter Curtis of Ashland, Ky.; and countless cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.
He was predeceased by his wife Ann Trenholm Curtis; son James Matthew Curtis; brothers Leo “Buck” Curtis and Richard Curtis; and sisters Margaret Nason and Marion Moroz.
Friends may call at Gray-Parker Funeral Home, 100 E. Main St., Port Jervis, on Thursday, March 9, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m.
Funeral services will be held Friday, March 10, with a 8:45 a.m. prayer at the funeral home followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 9:30 a.m. in St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church, 307 Ave. F., Matamoras, Pa., with the Rev. Alfred Vito officiating.
Burial with Military Honors will be at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Port Jervis.
Memorial contributions may be made to: Humane Society of York County, 8177 Regent Parkway, Fort Mill, SC 29715 or Humane Society of Port Jervis & Deerpark, 202 Route 209, Port Jervis, NY 12771.