Giacomo "Jim" Raimo

1930 - 2020

Giacomo "Jim" Raimo

Hyde Park - Giacomo ('Jim' or 'Poppy') Raimo, 90, passed away peacefully on December 20, 2020 in his home with his family. Jim was born on September 10, 1930 in Volturara Irpina, Italy to Massimino and Immaculata Raimo. An American citizen by birth, he moved to the United States as a young man and served in the United States Army. He was stationed in Germany during the Korean War, where he met his longtime friend and love, Brigitte "Kitty" Raimo. Jim and Kitty were married on July 21, 1956 in Germany. They then came to the United States and made their home in Port Washington, New York.

Jim, who was affectionately referred to as "Poppy," was known to be humorous and kind.Although he eventually lost his sight to a degenerative condition, he was steadfastly optimistic, faithful in the Catholic church, and generous with his love for his family. He enjoyed singing Italian-American songs, gardening, and more than anything, cooking for his friends and family (and, of course, eating his favorite dishes.)

Jim was a leader in the Port Washington community and a dear friend to many. He served as Grand Knight for the Knights of Columbus in Port Washington, as well as President of The Rotary Club, member of the Sons of Italy and parishioner of Our Lady of Fatima. He worked his way from an employee to the owner of a five and dime store on Main Street in Port Washington, which he named The Raimo Stores. He and Kitty moved to Hyde Park, NY in 1983 to be closer to their children, and there they owned the restaurant, Mr. Sausage, and a catering company, Jim's Home Cooking, which in addition to providing private catering, also served family recipes to the troops at Camp Smith.

Poppy is survived by his daughter, Grace Erceg, and son-in-law, Peter Erceg, his son, James Raimo, and daughter-in-law, Carol Raimo, and grandchildren, Alyssa (Karl) Schlegel, James (Allison) Raimo, Carly (Anthony) Caporizzo, and Jack (Jessica Krawiec) Raimo, as well as his great-grandchildren due in 2021. He is also survived by his sister-in-law, Teresa Raimo, and his nieces (and their families). He is pre-deceased by Kitty, his parents, his brother, Alfonso Raimo, and his niece, Dolores Raimo.

His family remembers him as a warm and faithful man, who deeply loved his wife, children and grandchildren. They keep in their heart memories of the family enjoying Poppy's lovingly- cooked meals around the dinner table, singing along to "Volare" and laughing at his jokes and stories.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Fr. Richard LaMorte at 11:30 am, Tuesday, December 29th at Regina Coeli church, Rte. 9, Hyde Park.

Burial with military honors will follow in the family plot at St. Peter's Cemetery, Poughkeepsie.

Masks will be required and proper COVID precautions will be observed.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Hudson Valley Hospice Foundation, 374 Violet Ave., Poughkeepsie, NY 12601. (www.hvhospice.org)

Arrangements are by Sweet's Funeral Home, Hyde Park. To send an online condolence, or for directions, please visit www.sweetsfuneralhome.com.