James Timothy Como

James T. Como of New York City died of heart failure on November 24th 2025 shortly after giving what would be his final lecture on C.S. Lewis in Bucharest, Romania. Como spent his entire academic life studying, writing about and teaching the Christian apologist's writings. In 1969 became a founding member of the New York C.S. Lewis Society. Although "retired" James Como was still prominent on the academic lecture circuit and would have been lecturing in Amiens, France this summer at the Jules Verne Institute.

Born in East Harlem in 1946, Jim graduated from Long Island City High School two years early and went on to obtain advanced degrees from Queens College (MA Public and Group Communication), Fordham University (MA Medieval English Literature) and Columbia University (PhD Language, Literature and Communication). In 1968 he began his academic career at York College (CUNY) and retired from there as Professor Emeritus in 2017. During those 50 years Dr. Como founded the Speech and Communications discipline in the Fine and Performing Arts Department where he also served as Chairperson over three separate tenures. Como published several books on C.S. Lewis, including C.S. Lewis At The Breakfast Table, Branches to Heaven: The Geniuses of CS Lewis and many others. Como also wrote many articles on Latin American Politics and thought and personal essays on family and Christianity and poetry and short stories.

Jim's academic accomplishments pale in comparison to his rich personal life which included his 57 year marriage to his Peruvian wife, Maria Alejandra (Xandra) and his devout Roman Catholicism and spirituality. Jim and Xandra traveled extensively and often, and there was not a taxi driver in any city who did not get the question "Tell me, what do you think of your president/language/local dish ...?" Jim was also annoyingly knowledgeable and overly supportive of The New York Yankees and anything baseball and had an overwhelming knowledge and passion for Television and Film. All of these passions are being carried on by the family he is survived by: his beloved wife, Xandra, his son, James E. Como, his daughter H. Alexandra Como Saghir, his son-in law, Peter Saghir and his two favorite people on earth- his grandchildren, Luke and Scarlett Saghir. No one could tell a story, be relied upon, or revel in the love of his family and students like James T. Como.

The funeral mass will be held at 10AM Monday the 22nd of December at The Church of St. Thomas Moore 65 East 89th Street NY New York 10128