James M. Szutowicz

SZUTOWICZ, JAMES M.
Born February 28, 1942 in Danville, PA, passed away Wednesday evening October 2, 2002 at Modoc Medical Center Alturas, CA. His formative years were spent in Niles, IL and Pomona, CA. He graduated from Mt. San Antonio College where he was president of the California Young Farmer Chapter and winner of the project competition award. James went on to attend Chico State College, majoring in Animal Husbandry. In 1964 he joined the U.S. National Guard and served until 1970. In 1964 James married Victoria V. Jones. During his career as Sales Manager for major national butcher supply companies, the family lived in Fremont, CA; Grants Pass, OR; Rochester, IL; Pomona and Sacramento, CA. In August of 1988, James was involved in a head-on collision with a drunk driver. The accident rendered him a paraplegic. In July 1994 James moved from Sacramento to Alturas, purchasing a home in town. In 1996, James and his wife, Vickie, built a home in Thorns Creek, IL, where he sent the remainder of his life in the country, raising cattle, tending chickens and gardening. His parents, James and Theresa Szutowicz, sister Theresa Carman, and infant brother, Paul Szutowicz precede James in death. He is survived by his wife, Victoria (Vickie) of Alturas; daughter, Jamie Szutowicz of Sacramento and husband, Scott Fitzpatrick; daughter, Jeneen Griffin of San Bernardino and husband, Michael; son, James Jr. of Sacramento; daughter, Jill Castro of Eureka; son, Hugo Castro of Sacramento; foster son, David Martin and Kimberly of Manteca; grandchildren, Alicia, Anthony, Max, Christopher, Brianna, Joseph, Kelsey, Alex; and several nieces and nephews. The family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Craig Hospital, Spinal Cord Injury Dept., 3425 South Clarkson, Englewood, CO 80110. Rosary was held at 7:00pm Sunday, October 6 at Kerr Mortuary in Alturas. Fr. Patrick Henry gave a Mass of Christian Burial on Monday, October 7, 10:00am at Sacred Heart Parish in Alturas.