“The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.”

Psalms 92:13

James J. Mitchell of Canton, Ohio, devoted husband, dedicated father and grandfather, proud Army veteran, retired law enforcement officer, active community member, sports and history buff, Lebanese ancestry enthusiast, and devout Catholic, has passed away at the age of 93.

A graduate of St. Mary’s Grade School in Canton, he attended Lincoln High School where he was a member of the varsity baseball team in 1950 and 1951. After graduating in 1951, he pitched a no-hitter while playing for the Junior Optimist baseball team. He was also a member of the W&R Sports American Legion baseball team and the Arthur Murray City Class B League baseball team before entering the U.S. Army in April 1953 during the Korean War. He was deployed to the 2nd Battalion, 4th Regimental Combat Team at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, where he earned a Good Conduct Medal, a Marksman Qualification Badge, and the National Defense Service Medal. During his military tenure, he completed two leadership training programs, and he was a member of the 2nd Battalion baseball team that played in the Midnight Sun League in 1954. He was honorably discharged in April 1955 at the rank of Private First Class.

Jim returned to Canton where he continued to carry out his love of baseball as a member of the Timken Roller Bearing baseball team in 1956, the Canton Merchants Class A league in 1957, and the Lamb’s Class Slow Pitch team that won the city championship in 1958. He won several league championships as a member of the Sliman’s Printery bowling team from 1955 to 1980. He scored a record 762 points in a three-game series while bowling for the Knights of Columbus in 1970. While imparting his athletic talent to the next generation, he won two league championships as a manager of Hot Stove baseball from 1968-1975, and he won the Stark County Colt League championship as a manager of Colt League baseball in 1977. He became a founding member of the Canton Police Boys Club in 1949, now the Boys and Girls Club of Canton at J. Babe Stearn Community Center, where he coached three basketball teams to City Class C championships. He maintained his membership there for the rest of his life, and he devoted countless hours to archival work as the center’s historian. He was inducted into the J. Babe Stearn Center hall of Fame in 2009, and the Stark County Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame in 2017.

Jim joined the Canton Police Department in 1959. While working full time as a law enforcement officer, he graduated from Kent State University with a Bachelor’s degree in General Studies in 1972, and from Akron University with a Master’s degree in Urban Administration in 1983. He taught criminal justice courses at Kent State University for 12 years, and he was a police academy instructor for 25 years at the Canton Training Academy and Traynor Police Academy. His law enforcement career is replete with records of meritorious conduct, including successful hostage negotiations, saving lives in emergency situations, and tackling unjust discrimination. As a detective, he led investigations that solved difficult and complex cases involving violent crime, organized crime, and even governmental corruption. He received the Knights of Columbus Bluecoat award in 1976, and retired with the rank of lieutenant in February 1986. He continued his career of public service as Director of the Juvenile Probation Department of the Stark County Family Court from 1986 until he retired in 2003.

Jim never ceased to be an active member in his community. He was a trustee of the Lincoln High School Alumni Association where he served as president in 1992, and he was a trustee of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Luncheon Club where he served as president in 2009. He was also a fourth degree Knight affiliated with the Knights of Columbus Council 341, a member of the Fraternal Order of Police, an usher and member of the Catholic Men’s Club at St. Peter Parish (now the Basilica of St. John the Baptist and St. Peter Parish), a supporter of the Military Aviation Preservation Museum (MAPS), a supporter of American Legion Post 221, and a member of the Stark County Lebanese-American Club.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas and Rose Mitchell, and his three brothers, Michael, Eugene, and Richard. He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Janice; his sons, Richard and Jason; his daughter, Victoria; his grandchildren, Gene Matako III (and wife, Kelly), Lily, Lane, and Penelope; his great grandchildren, Gino and Kendallyn, and additional grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Visitation is from 8:30am to 9:30am at Rossi Family Funeral Home in Canton, Ohio on Saturday, August 22. After visitation, a Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at St. Peter Catholic Church in Canton at 10:00am, Rev. Fr. Brian Smith celebrant. Interment to follow at East Union Lawn Cemetery in Navarre.

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.