James B. Wilson

James B. Wilson, a decorated retired Navy Captain who in a 23-year military career served two tours in Vietnam and directed the prestigious Navy Seal schools on both the east and west coasts, died November 11 of pneumonia, he was 90. A resident of Manheim Township and Park City, Utah until health and the pandemic made travel to Utah impossible, Jim was born to James Borden Wilson and Grace Anderson Wilson in Oswego, NY. After a fortuitous meeting on the ski slopes of Utah, he married Marolyn Shirk Davenport in 2009. Jim received his BA in education and MA in psychology from the State University of New York. While studying for his master’s degree, he had a fellowship with the well-known psychologist, Carl Rogers. He worked as a guidance counselor and coach for five years on Long Island. While in college, Jim drove in numerous stock car races, including one against Mario Andretti. When living on Long Island, he played on a minor league soccer team. Jim’s primary career was as an officer and a SEAL in the US Navy. As the commanding officer of Underwater Demolition Team 13, he led his men in combat in the swamps and rivers of Vietnam. The honors he received for this included a Bronze Star with a V for valor, the Vietnamese Medal of Honor, and a Presidential Unit Citation. He served as Director of Basic Underwater Demolition/Seals training for the Atlantic Fleet in Little Creek, VA, and the Pacific Fleet in Coronado, CA. Capt. Wilson’s skills as an educator and his devotion to training the next generation of Frogmen, as the members of the UDT/SEALS are known, were an essential part of the Naval Special Warfare’s transition from the Underwater Demolition Teams to the SEALS Teams. After retiring from the Navy, Jim founded a development company, Ellison & Wilson, and built houses in Reno, NV. A superb athlete, he also taught skiing at Mt. Rose ski area there and later moved to California to teach at Kirkwood Mountain Resort. In 2001, he moved to Park City, Utah where he was in high demand as an instructor until he retired at the age of 82 after 30 years teaching skiing. Jim combined his love of travel and biking by serving as a bicycle trip leader first with Adventure Cycling, biking, and camping throughout the west, and then with Bicycle Adventure Club. He especially loved France and planned and led over 25 trips through France as a volunteer group leader. Between trips, he learned to speak French by attending immersion French language programs in France, Canada, and Guadeloupe. In addition to his wife, Jim is survived by his daughters, Kathleen Wilson Sietsema (husband Keith) and Karen Wilson Gustavel; three grandchildren, Megan Kollar (husband Ross Dwyer), Ryan Gustavel, and Kayde Gustavel; and a grandson Oliver James Kollar Dwyer. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation, michaeljfox.org.

James B. Wilson

November 11, 2024