James J. Longo

1919 - 2014

James J. Longo

AGE: 95 • Monroe Twp.

James J. Longo, known as Pop Pop and Jim to his family and friends, passed away peacefully at his home in the Rossmoor community of Monroe Township on Saturday November 29th.

The Longo family emigrated from Sicily in 1917. They moved to Jamesburg so Jim's father could take a job with the PA Railroad. Jim was born in 1919 on Warren Street in Jamesburg where he lived with his two sisters and two brothers. He graduated from Jamesburg High School where he played baseball and basketball. He was also an avid hunter and fisherman his whole life.

After graduating from high school in 1937, Jim went to trade school in NY to learn the sheet metal business. In 1942 he joined the Air Force and was sent to the Chute Institute in Chicago to continue learning the trade. He then taught other servicemen how to work on and repair military planes. One well known plane Jim worked on was the "Memphis Belle." Jim was stationed in Homestead, FL, Biloxi, MS, Long Beach, CA and Calcutta, India.

When Jim was stationed at the base in Long Beach, he met the love of his life, a young girl named Darliene who was working in an office at the base. They were married in Las Vegas, New Mexico while Jim was still in the service. They remained married for over 53 years. They lived in Jamesburg and had a daughter Mary Margaret and son Joey.

Jim started his own business called J. Longo and Son that specialized in sheet metal, air conditioning and roofing. Besides the normal work, they excelled in working with copper. After Jim retired he and his wife spent winters at their Boynton Beach, FL home.

Jim was a life long parishioner of St. James RC Church, Jamesburg and a member of the St. James Knights of Columbus. He was a member of American Legion Star Post #127, Jamesburg. He was a member of the NRA and was a hunting instructor for many years. He was also a member of the Rossmoor Italian American Club.

He was predeceased by his beautiful wife Darliene in 1997, his best friend and son Joey in 2001, his sisters Mary Spicuzza and Stella Juliano and his two brothers Charlie and Joe.

Surviving are his daughter Mary Margaret Polisano and her husband Louis, three grandchildren and their spouses Lisa and Robert Clarke, Lou and Maggie Polisano and James and Cindy Longo, his six great grandchildren Brielle and Victoria Clarke, Grace and Catherine Polisano and Josephine and Jackson Longo, many nieces and nephews and his daughter-in-law Cathy Longo.

Jim will be fondly remembered but sadly missed by all of his family, his many friends and his two most wonderful caregivers Karen and Niki.

Services will begin 9:30 a.m. Saturday December 6th at the Lester Memorial Home 16 W. Church St., Jamesburg followed by a 10 a.m. funeral liturgy at St. James RC Church, Jamesburg.

Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Visiting hours for family and friends will be Friday 4-7 p.m. and Saturday 8:30-9:30 a.m. at the funeral home.

For directions to the funeral home or to send condolences to the family visit www.LesterMemorialHome.com.