James J. Frugoni

James J. Frugoni, (95), of Houston, Texas, passed away peacefully on Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025, surrounded by his family. He was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1929, the son of Vincent & Grace Frugoni. Six years later, the family would grow with the birth of James' sister Maria.
James spent his formative years in Brooklyn, playing soccer, touch-football and stick ball with his cousins and neighborhood friends. In 1952, James earned his BS in Mathematics from St. John's University. After graduation, he was commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps and was stationed in Japan during the Korean War.
In 1957, he was awarded a Research Assistantship at Indiana University in Bloomington and was later awarded an MS in Geology and Geophysics. Subsequently hired by Robert H. Ray Company, James was sent to Tripoli, Libya in Northern Africa where he was introduced to Barbara, a British expat.
The official marriage proposal was made by a long-distance phone call just before New Years's Eve in 1961, and the two were married in June of 1962. They welcomed four children into the family, Lorinda, Doranne, James and Mark.
During his career as a Geophysicist, James worked for various oil & gas exploration companies and, even in retirement, he continued his exploration work developing independent prospects which he continued to market and sell.
Jim was predeceased by his parents and sister and is survived by Barbara, his wife of 62 years, his children: Lorinda, Doranne, James and Mark; his eight grandchildren: Sandra, Michael, Stratton, Stephanie, Kyle, Taylor, Alex, and Gabby; and his seven great grandchildren: Charlie, Sorine, Walker, Travis, Molly, Giacomo and Murphy.
There will be a small, private ceremony for the family, but if you would like to honor Jim's memory, please consider clicking the following link to donate to The Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation's "Jim & Barbara Honorary Scholarship" which was established in 2014 with the mission to Honor Marines by Educating Their Children. To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of James, please visit our Tree Store.