James A. Mininni

James Albert Mininni, 93, of Biddeford, passed away peacefully at his home on Saturday, July 13, 2024. He was born in Biddeford on April 20, 1931, a son of Vito M. and Laura Aube Mininni. He attended St. Mary's School and graduated from Biddeford High School with the Class of 1950. He went on to the University of Maine at Orono and received his degree in Civil Engineering in 1954. Sadly, his mother died in 1946. Following her death, his father married Lucia Mariello.
White Star Laundry is where he met the woman standing behind the counter who would later become his wife and mother of his six children. They dated through his college years, after which James and Priscilla Larochelle wed on September 11, 1954 during Hurricane Edna. They were together for twenty-seven years before Priscilla's untimely death on February 22, 1981.
James worked for his father at Vito Mininni, Inc. He enjoyed delivering the blocks they manufactured or driving dump trucks, operating forklifts, front end loaders, etc. He loved to plow snow, in the parking lots of the Biddeford-Saco area or the driveways of his neighborhood.
After his father died in 1965, James ran the business with his brother and eventually expanded the operation by adding a site in Westbrook and a stone and gravel pit in Saco. They also partnered with Henri Bourque to own and operate Lucien Bourque Inc., a ready-mix and excavation company. Eventually they downsized back to the original business and in 1998 James became the sole owner of Vito Mininni Inc. In 2005, he sold the business and retired at 75 years old.
On July 8th, 1983 he married Jane Robinson. Having three children of her own, together they enjoyed gatherings around the pool, holiday celebrations, graduations, and many weddings. They made wonderful and memorable trips with Jim's University of Maine ATO brother Allen Fernald and his wife Sally to Europe and a cross country train trip to Vancouver, British Columbia, to name a few. They also traveled to Europe and the Middle East to see daughters Lisa and Jane while studying or living abroad. Hawaii was a special destination to escape a few weeks of Maine winter to visit family.
James was a "can do" man. There were many hardships he had to face in his 93 years, but his attitude was always "It is what it is" so let's deal with it. He was a great conversationalist, always showing a true interest in everyone he met. James was a great cook with Italian meals being his specialty. Baccala at Christmas time was a favorite. He enjoyed woodworking and made cradles and other furniture, and toys for his grandchildren. While his grandchildren were young, he set up an extensive train system and town which they all enjoyed operating with "Grampy". In his later years he enjoyed making puzzles and watching the boats and wildlife from his home on the Saco River.
James' favorite place in the world was at his camp on Moose Pond in Denmark, Maine. His parents purchased land in a secluded cove, the first lot in 1938, and to this day is still a place for relaxation and family gatherings. The rustic camps and lake brought him peace and kept special memories with his father alive.
James was preceded in death by his parents, his step-mother Lucia Mininni, his brothers Hormidas "Mike" Mininni and Vito Mininni Jr., his first wife, Priscilla Mininni, and his step-son Christopher Robinson.
He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Jane; his son, James Mininni, Jr. (Lori); his daughters, Linda Lajeunesse (Roger), Dorothy Cotton (Charles), Deborah Dwyer (Thad), Maria Soulard (Marc), and Lisa Mininni; his step-children; Mark Robinson and Jane Robinson (Colin Huddleston); his step daughter-in-law, Brigitte Robinson, 12 grandchildren and their spouses, 3 step-grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.
Visitation will be held on Monday, July 22, 2024 from 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm at Hope Memorial Chapel. A Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 am on Tuesday, July 23, 2024 at St. Brendan's Chapel, 40 L.B. Orcutt Blvd, Biddeford, ME 04006.
Memorial donations can kindly be made to: Hospice of Southern Maine, 390 US Route One, Scarborough, ME 04074