James A. Magistro passed away on Friday, Feb. 19, 2021, in West Milford, N.J. He was 98 years old.
Jim was born in New Haven, Conn., on Oct. 29, 1922, to Joseph and Susan Paldo Magistro.
At 18, he was drafted into the Army as a Gunnery Guard and was stationed in Belgium during the Battle of the Bulge.
It was there that he met and married his wife of 68 years, Rachel Titeca Magistro.
After the war, they returned to Jim’s hometown in New Haven and later moved to East Haven to raise their family.
Jim worked as a supervisor for AC Gilbert and later for the City of New Haven before retiring in 1989.
He loved to read, tinker in his workshop, garden and enjoyed a good cigar at the end of the day.
In 2008, Jim and his wife moved to the Chelsea at Bald Eagle Senior Community in New Jersey to be closer to their daughter and extended family.
He leaves his daughter Patricia (Kenneth) Calcagno of Venice, Fla., his sister Mary (Jim) DeStefano of New Haven, Conn., his grandson Brad (Jamie) Calcagno of Port Charlotte, Fla., his granddaughter Lisa (Jim) Haggart of Warwick; as well as four great grandchildren.
A private graveside service will be held at East Lawn Cemetery, where he will be laid to rest with his wife.
The East Haven Memorial Longobardi – Brennan Funeral Home, 425 Main St., East Haven, 203-467-1708 is in charge of arrangements.