James Pokorny Memorial Fund

James Pokorny gained his angel wings on July 3rd, 2022.

James is survived by his wife Paola Pokorny and his three children, JJ, Mateo, and Gabriel and his mother Kathy, father Richard, sister Jen, and niece Eily, and preceded in death by his brother Rocky. James also leaves behind a large extended family and numerous friends who love him deeply and will miss him forever. Being a dad was life’s greatest gift to James; he loved every minute of it. His enthusiasm and energy for life were palpable, and those around him were better for knowing him.

James was a well-decorated Army Veteran who fearlessly served multiple combat deployments, including the Balkans, Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as many other deployments to various countries in support of the Global War on Terrorism campaigns. He enlisted in the military in 1999 as a Counterintelligence Special Agent and attended the Basic Airborne Course, awarding him the title of Paratrooper. He was commissioned as a Warrant Officer and then retired from active duty in 2021 after serving multiple assignments within the intelligence and special operations community.

Jim’s insatiable appetite for coaching and mentoring troops made him a beloved leader who inspired those who served with him. He embodied quiet professionalism and was a great teammate, working diligently to support the mission while simultaneously mentoring his Soldiers, often allowing his troops to take credit for his successes. He was always quick to give his opinion and quicker to support those around him.

With James’ loving personality and his “live life to the fullest” attitude, his sudden loss shocked everyone who knew him. The money raised from this GoFundMe will be given to his family to pay for funeral services, and any additional contributions will be given to his loving wife, Paola, for the continued support of the Pokorny family.

James’s family would like to thank everyone for your generous donations, continued support, and sympathy during this challenging time. Please honor James for the rest of your lives and live as he did: unconditional love, a servant leader attitude, generosity for others and finding humor even in the darkest moments. While nothing can lessen the pain of losing James, we can only hope to spread the love, light and laughter he brought to all who knew him.