James Vincent Caggiano

James Vincent (Jim) Caggiano passed away on August 8th at Spring Village Assisted Living in Stratford after a brief illness. He was nearing his 94th birthday and lived an extraordinary life.

Jim was born on November 19th, 1931, in a small town in Italy called Buonalbergo (literally "good inn" in Italian - a warm and welcoming place). His parents were Maria and Filomeno Caggiano, and Neopolitan cuisine and sensibilities formed the foundation of their family. Filomeno was born in America and traveled between the countries, while Maria stayed in Italy and raised 4 children, with Jim as third child. He emigrated with his mother and younger brother Mario to America through Ellis Island in 1948 as a teenager, with minimal English facility.

The family settled in New Britain, where he completed high school, junior college

and then attended the University of Bridgeport, where his love of languages blossomed. Jim had a reverence for learning and education and earned a bachelor's degree and two master's degrees in French, French literature, and Education at the University of Bridgeport. It was here that he met Rejeanne Begin, who would become his wife.

Jim graduated and began his career as a foreign language teacher, holding positions at the University of Bridgeport, Housatonic Community College, Trumbull High School, and eventually Central High School until his retirement in 1996. Rejeanne and Jim married in 1964 and settled in Trumbull in 1968, raising their children Laura and Jay in a caring, warm home environment. They shared their lives for 49 years until her passing in 2013. He was fortunate to reconnect with an old friend and colleague in the last decade of his life. Stephanie Brackett was a caring companion, enriching his later years until her passing in 2023.

Though Italian was his first language, Jim was fluent in English, French and Spanish as well, with a working knowledge of Portuguese and a distinct love for Latin declensions. Romance Languages came naturally to him, and when out and about he occasionally stunned passersby who might be conversing in their native language. He would strategically drop a perfectly pronounced phrase, thereby eliciting whoops of surprise and delight and beginning a new connection.

Jim was unfailingly social, and loved to discuss any subject under the sun, often making new friends in the process. His favorite phrase was "never put off until tomorrow what can be done today", and he lived that motto with relentless energy and positivity. He took great pride in his garden, delivering bumper crops and sharing the results of his careful cultivation with family and friends. He provided for his family and built a life for himself and them for which we are all grateful.

Jim was predeceased by his sister Emma Malusardi, brothers Antonio and Mario (John) Caggiano, brothers-in-law Norman Begin and Arlen LeRoy and sister-in-law Kathleen Begin. He is survived by his children, Laura Patterson of Trumbull, Jay Caggiano and daughter-in-law Andrea Caggiano of Norfolk, MA, along with his beloved grandchildren Regina Caggiano and AJ Caggiano, sisters-in-law Immacolata (Tina) Caggiano, Lorraine LeRoy, Deena Begin, and Bernice Begin, along with brothers-in-law Gerald and Robert Begin, many nieces and

nephews, and other relatives. He touched our lives in countless ways and is already sorely missed.

A celebratory Mass will be held at Christ the King church in Trumbull on September 6th at 10 am. The interment will be at Gate of Heaven cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the National Federation of the Blind of Connecticut, 111 Sheldon Road, Unit 420, Manchester, CT 06045.