Hon. James P. Ginocchio

Hon. James P. Ginocchio, 74, of Fairfield, the beloved husband of Sandra Arnold, passed away peacefully at home on Friday, December 6, 2024, surrounded by those he loved and his faith in the Lord. James was born March 17, 1950, in Brooklyn, NY, the son of the late August Joseph Ginocchio and Elizabeth (Ptasienski) Ginocchio.
Raised in Babylon, NY, he attended St. Joseph's Elementary School and St. Anthony's High School. He earned his bachelor's degree at Fairfield University and his Juris Doctor degree at the University of Bridgeport School of Law.
James started his law career practicing with Paul Tymniak and Associates in Fairfield, before taking a position with the State of Connecticut Judicial Branch as a clerk in the Stamford Superior Court. In 1982, James was appointed as a public defender in the Norwalk Superior Court, where he served for nearly two decades. He was the supervisor of that office for many years. In 2001, James was appointed to the bench as a Superior Court Judge by the Governor.
As a judge, he was assigned to serve in the Danbury, Waterbury, Litchfield and Bridgeport Court jurisdictions. He spent his judicial career overseeing criminal, housing and juvenile cases, and served as a presiding judge and administrative judge in many of those jurisdictions. He also was a member of various judicial committees, including the Judicial Review Council. At the age of 70, he became a judge trial referee, a position he has held for the past 4 years.
Always "James" to his family and "Jimmy" to his friends, he will be remembered as a true gentleman, with a tremendous sense of humor, who was much loved and respected. He always aimed to be a fair man. James felt blessed in his life with cherished family and friends. He was embraced by so many good friends, many dating back to childhood. Everyone enjoyed a conversation with Jimmy, because he was such a good listener, with understanding, quick wit and he was a truly kind individual.
Jimmy was an avid traveler and spent many vacations with family and friends. Some of his favorite annual trips were to Cape Cod, Lancaster, St. Thomas and his favorite place, St. Pete. He always had a flight booked to Florida and couldn't wait to get there - his second home! Jimmy loved the game of golf, enjoying his time spent on the course with good friends. He was an avid reader, who loved live theatre, be it local community or Broadway, he was always ready to see a show.
In addition to his wife, Sandra, he is survived by his stepson, Michael Garofalo and his wife Latoya; granddaughters, Arianna and Maya; his siblings, Robert Ginocchio, Thomas Ginocchio and his wife Libby, Peter Ginocchio and his wife Lynne, Betty Ann Horrmann, Mary Ellen Chinn and her husband Kenneth and David Ginocchio and his wife Peggy; his brother-in-law, Robert Arnold and his wife Andrea; a number of nieces and nephews, extended family, colleagues and friends. He will remain in our hearts forever!
Friends may greet his family on Wednesday, December 11, 2024, from 4:00 to 7:00 pm. at the Shaughnessey Banks Funeral Home, 50 Reef Road in Fairfield. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, December 12, 2024, at 10:45 a.m. at the Egan Chapel of St. Ignatius Loyola at Fairfield University, accessed via entrance at 200 Barlow Road. Parking is permitted in the Dolan School of Business lots, Quick Center lots and the Conference Center lot. There will be a shuttle service from the various lots beginning at 10:00 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude’s Place, Memphis, TN 38105, https://www.stjude.org/donate/.