James Pontillo

The family of James "Jake" Pontillo sadly announces his peaceful passing away at the age of 78 due to pulmonary issues.
Jake was born in New York City, where he spent the majority of his life. He received his PhD from SUNY Buffalo in Spanish, and taught Spanish at the college and high school level for many years. Many students fondly remember having "Doc" as their Spanish teacher at St. John's Prep in Astoria. He had a gruff, intimidating exterior, but students soon learned that if they tried their best, he'd be a supporting and encouraging mentor.
He was appointed a Reserve Commissioned Officer of the Army in 1968 and was honorably discharged in 1972, but the troops that he maintained the longest connection to were the Boy Scouts. He worked at a Boy Scout camp for many years, sharing his knowledge of knot tying, fire starting, and other useful life and wilderness skills.
He had a deep Catholic faith and attended mass consistently. He was a valued member of the community of St. Francis of Assisi Church in Astoria.
He was a skilled artist in a variety of media, from painting to metalwork, but his main passion was for American Indian handicrafts, including beadwork and porcupine quillwork. He created beautifully decorated bags, pouches, knife sheaths, and items of clothing, receiving the stamp of approval from American Indian groups, who appreciated his attention to detail and commitment to authenticity. He also was highly skilled at the martial art Taekwondo, with a second level black belt certification. He taught Taekwondo for many years. He also made delicious pizza, which is a legacy of his Neapolitan roots.
After he retired from teaching and took a step back from Taekwondo, he took a special interest in the local stray cat population near his home, helping to care for a local colony, taking in several strays and giving them a good home.
In his later years, he consistently told his daughters that they were right to tell him to quit smoking. His daughters inherited a tendency to be right from their father.
He is survived by his daughters Charlotte, of Norwalk, Connecticut, and Loretta, of Milton, Vermont; his nieces and nephew; and many cousins, as well as three cats. He was predeceased by his parents, James and Ann Pontillo of Flushing, Queens.
In lieu of flowers, donations to his beloved St. Francis of Assisi Church would be appreciated. Jake also consistently supported St. Joseph's Indian School in South Dakota. In his memory, you can learn some words in a foreign language, go for a hike in the woods, feed a stray cat, or quit smoking.