James Gilbert Ware was born June 18, 1946, in St. Louis, Mo. He enlisted in the Marine Corps after graduating from High School in California and entered the Naval Academy in 1966 via NAPS. Jim was commissioned into the Marine Corps in 1970, and served with distinction until his retirement as a Lt. Colonel in 1992. He earned Master’s Degrees from the Naval Postgraduate School (Electrical Engineering) and from the University of Southern California (Systems Management). From 1985 to 1988, he taught Electrical Engineering at the Naval Academy. He served in the Marine Corps for a total of 28 years, receiving the Navy Achievement Medal, Navy Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service and Meritorious Service Medal. Jim met his future wife Mary while he was assigned duty in Japan. They were married in 1978 in Whitman, MA. They had a son and daughter prior to divorce.
Following retirement from the Marine Corps, Jim was employed by the Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology, where he was employed for 10 years as the company’s Director of Information Systems and Technology. He also taught math at South River High School and was a volunteer Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) tutor at Broadneck, MD High School. A 25-year resident of the Broadneck peninsula, Jim served as head coach of the Broadneck Senior High School girls softball team for 11 seasons, leading them to back-to-back county championships. He also was the founder and coach of the Chesapeake Freedom Softball team and was involved in Cape St. Claire youth athletics and Broadneck youth sports since 1984.
Jim died unexpectedly on July 5, 2008 at the Anne Arundel Medical Center, Annapolis, MD. He was inurned at the Naval Academy Columbarium. A Memorial Service was held at Broadneck High School on July 10, 2008. It was attended by several hundred students, current and former teammates of the high school softball team, family, faculty, friends, colleagues and USNA classmates. In a fitting tribute to Jim’s leadership and commitment to his student athletes, the high school dedicated the softball field, now Ware Field, in Jim’s honor.
Jim was preceded in death by his mother, Anna Marie Dochnal. Survivors include his former wife, Mary Ware; his stepfather, Frank Dochnal; one son, Patrick Ware; one daughter, Beth Ware; and two grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Broadneck High School Athletic Boosters.
Updated: November 03, 2018
Curator: Ed Moore