James William Ebert

James William Ebert passed away due to natural causes on October 9th, 2024, in Sierra Vista, Arizona, at the age of 86. Born on October 6th, 1938, and raised in Pittsburgh, PA, he was the only child of William and Clara (Meyer) Ebert. Jim married Deborah on June 11th, 1966, in Roslyn, PA, and they were happily married for 58 years. Jim is survived by his wife and four children, Douglas (Marlei) Ebert, Gordon (Angela) Ebert, Kenneth (Naoko) Ebert, and Meridith (Daniel) Caryl, and 11 grandchildren.

As a Boy Scout, Jim earned the rank of Eagle Scout, and was a lifelong nature lover. He felt at home in the mountains and enjoyed outdoor activities including hiking, canoeing, camping, spelunking, and boating. Jim could fix anything, had a natural love of learning, and displayed a great sense of humor. Jim had a knack for making people smile and enjoyed engaging with people from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences.

A 1956 graduate of West View High School, Jim earned a B.S. in Zoology from the University of Pittsburgh in 1960, a V.M.D. in Veterinary Medicine from the University of Pennsylvania in 1964, and an M.S. in Parasitology from the University of Illinois in 1967.

Joining the United States Public Health Service (USPHS) in 1967 as a commissioned officer, he served for 31 years as a research veterinarian. Achieving the rank of Captain, Jim retired in 1998 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. His most notable career achievement was working on a team responsible for developing the hepatitis B vaccine for humans. During his career, he helped author over two dozen research papers and was awarded six USPHS medals and ribbons. He also served on the Board of Directors at the Primate Foundation of Arizona and was a member of multiple professional organizations.

During his lifetime, Jim lived in many locations, including Pittsburgh, PA, Philadelphia, PA, Champaign-Urbana, IL, Kansas City, KS, Columbus, OH, Phoenix, AZ, Lilburn, GA, and in retirement, enjoyed living in both Hiawassee, GA and Sierra Vista, AZ.

Jim was a highly active volunteer in the local community in support of Ramsey Canyon Nature Preserve, Brown Canyon Ranch, the Spit & Shine group at Sierra Vista United Methodist Church, and he would always lend a helping hand to those in need. He also enjoyed his wife’s hobby of raising, training, and showing Weimaraners, and was active in local dog clubs.

A funeral service will be held at Sierra Vista United Methodist Church at 10:30 am on Monday October 28th, 2024. Interment with full military honors to follow the same day at 2 pm at Southern Arizona Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery; guests should plan to arrive by 1:40 pm.

In lieu of flowers or gifts to family, please consider donations to any of the following organizations: The Nature Conservancy, Friends of the Brown Canyon Ranch, Ramsey Canyon Preserve, or the Sierra Vista United Methodist Church Spit & Shine group.

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