NEW CONCORD, OH -- James R. Vejsicky, 54, New Concord, died at 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 29, 2005, at Genesis Good Samaritan Hospital ER after suffering a heart attack at the Muskingum College Alumni Basketball Game.

He was born Oct. 18, 1950, in Warrensville Heights, a son of James C. and Gladys M. Tichy Vejsicky of Lancaster. He was a 1969 graduate of Warrensville Heights High School, where he participated in cross country, basketball, track and baseball. He graduated from Muskingum College in 1973 with a B.A. in Elementary Education and earned a master's degree in Physical Education from Ohio University in 1998. He taught at Massillon Perry Local Schools for one year and at the East Muskingum Local Schools for 30 years, retiring in 2004. He coached both boys and girls junior high basketball, junior high football, and J-V baseball, along with being head boys basketball coach for three years and golf coach for 13 years. He most recently served as a sixth-grade math teacher.

Jim attended the College Drive Presbyterian Church and was a member of the Zanesville District Golf Association. He received the Muskingum County Educational Service Center "Outstanding Teaching" award in 1997. He was an avid golfer and was a former club champion of the Cambridge Country Club and the Wildfire Golf Course.

While at Muskingum College, he scored 1,054 points during his career and earned four varsity letters. He was former assistant coach of the Muskingum College men's basketball team and also ran the shot clock for basketball and field clock for football.

He is survived by his parents; his wife, Janet L. Conners Vejsicky, whom he married Sept. 9, 1972; one daughter, Kristen J. (Ryan) McLane, West Chester; one son, Geoffrey T. (Corisa A.) Vejsicky, New Concord; sisters, Gayle Adkins, Lancaster, and Janette (Robert) Langdon, Middleton, Wis.; and two granddaughters, Sarah and Madelyn Vejsicky. He was preceded in death by one brother, Gerry Vejsicky.