Jim was born September 8, 1939, the second child of ten born to Elmer Albert and Blanche Helen (Rub) Day. After Blanche died in 1953, Elmer married Delores Cummins. Jim attended Anderson Township High School and participated in Varsity Club, Track, Chorus, and football. During his senior year, he was elected Class Vice President and graduated in 1957. He attended Ohio University in Athens until June 1959.
Within the month, Jim joined the United States Coast Guard Reserves on June 12, 1957. After recruit training, he was trained as a Fireman Apprentice and served there after as a Fireman. Ensign Day was honorably discharged in 1963.
Also in 1957, he began working as a counter salesman for Randsom and Randolph on Seventh Street. He then worked as a stock handler at Nutone on Madison until May 1960. Then, until November 1960, he worked as a laborer at Dayton Industrial Products.
Jim joined the Cincinnati Police Division on May 22, 1961 as a Police Recruit. He was promoted to Patrolman on August 28, 1961, issued Badge 176, and assigned to District 2 (314 Broadway). On January 1, 1963 he was rotated to District 4 (7017 Vine Street). Five years later, on April 14, 1968, he was promoted to Specialist, issued Badge PS-158, and assigned to civilian clothed investigations. Specialist Day transferred to Criminal Investigation Section February 7, 1971 and was assigned to an expanded Robbery Squad. In 1976, the Robbery Squad solved every bank robbery that occurred that year, a very rare feat. At the end of the year, he transferred to the District 4 Investigative Unit (4150 Reading Road). The Cincinnati Exchange Club, in February 1981, honored him and another officer for their investigation and arrest of three men responsible for a series of armed robberies. He was promoted to Sergeant on September 10, 1986, issued Badge S-5, and assigned to District 3 (3201 Warsaw Avenue). Six months later, Sergeant Day returned to District 4 for good. By the end of 1987, he was already the senior sergeant on Second Relief and according to his commander served admirably as such. Sergeant Day retired on July 21, 1990 with 33 years of service to his country and community and 34 letters of appreciation and/or commendation, including six from Cincinnati Police chiefs and one from Federal Bureau of Investigations Director J. Edgar Hoover.
While under hospice care and surrounded by family, Sergeant Day died at 5:25 p.m. on May 13, 2023 at the age of 83.
He was predeceased by his siblings, Judy, Pat (Jim), Kitty (Alex), Cheryl (Earl), and Mike; and uncle, Cincinnati Police Detective Wilson Day. Sergeant Day is survived by his wife of 62 years, Delores (Huneck) Day; son, James Elmer (Karen) Day, Jr.; grandchildren, Kelsey Day and Evan Day; and siblings, Linda (David), Bev (Gary) Dennis (Maria), Ricky, Ken, and Janie.
A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, May 26, 2023, at St. James the Greater Church, 3565 Hubble Road, near Cheviot Avenue. His remains will be interred across the street in the St. James Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the Notre Dame Glee Club at 105 DeBartolo Performing Arts Center, Notre Dame, IN 46556.
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