James V. Montagnino Obituary
James V. (Jimmy) Montagnino, 81, a life-long resident of Gloucester, Massachusetts passed away on Saturday, May 7, 2022, surrounded by his loving family. He was the husband of Mary Jo (Pratt) Montagnino for 58 wonderful years. Mary Jo was the love of his life and the truest of soulmates.
Jim was born in Gloucester, Massachusetts on February 10, 1941, son of the late Dominic and Mary (Catania) Montagnino. He graduated from St. Ann's High School, where he was captain of both the basketball and baseball teams. After graduation, Jim enlisted in the U.S. Army and served from 1958 to 1961. Following his honorable discharge, Jim attended and received an Associate degree from Burdett College.
Jim began his career in the seafood industry for O'Donnell-Usen and Booth Fisheries. After learning the trade, he found an opportunity to start his own transportation company, Gloucester Dispatch in 1969. Gloucester Dispatch shipped frozen seafood nationwide for 45 years with a fleet of over 100 trucks at one time. In addition, Jim enjoyed great success developing residential commercial, and waterfront property in the city that he loved.
There is nothing Jim enjoyed more than hanging out with his family, business associates and lifelong friends. Whether it was playing cards at Uncle Moe's, House of Mitch, Pilot house or St. Peters Club or enjoying a round of golf at his second home, Bass Rocks Golf Club. Jim never met a golf course he would not play. His conflicting passion was boating. He could attend mass, play 18 holes and take the family out for an Annisquam River cruise all in the same day. He loved traveling his with his wife and family.
Jim was very active in his parish, St. Ann's Church and with multiple charities. He was a former board member of Addison Gilbert hospital also actively involved in the launching the Grace Center.
Most of all Jim was very proud of his children and grandchildren's multitudes of talent and accomplishments. He loved having them visit in Naples, and always loved cooking for them whether it be the seven fishes or having them over for Sunday dinner, his special spaghetti and meatballs. Family was everything to him.
Jim is survived by wife, Mary Jo Montagnino, children, James Montagnino Jr, Margaret (Meg) Jarrett and her husband Keith, Marcia (Marcy) Pregent and her husband Derek, and Amy Montagnino, grandchildren, Benjamin and Jaymes Jarrett, Matthew, Marcus, and Nathaniel Montagnino, and Sophia and Lily Pregent, brother, Anthony Montagnino and his wife Roseann, his brothers-in-law, Michael Pratt and his wife Gail, Joseph Pratt and his wife Carol, and James Pratt and his wife Deborah, along with his sisters-in-laws, whom he cherished, Karen Budrow, Stephanie Pratt-Densmore, and Michelle Pratt, along with many nieces and nephews.
Jim is preceded in death by his beloved sister Theresa Montagnino, sister in laws Cynthia Loiacano, and Christine Murphy. He lost many special friends over this past year. Scottie and his wife Sam Cranston, and Ron Nickerson.
The family would like to take this opportunity to thank all is caregivers that helped him recover over the years.
His Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, May 13, 2022, at 10:30 a.m. in Holy Family Parish, St. Ann's Church, 74 Pleasant Street, Gloucester, Ma. Visiting hours will be held on Thursday, May 12, 2022, from 4-7 p.m. at Greely Funeral Home, 212 Washington St., Gloucester. Burial will follow the funeral at Cavalry Cemetery.
For those who wish, in lieu of flowers, donations in Jim's memory may be made to: Holy Family Parish, St. Ann's Church, 60 Prospect St., Gloucester, MA 01930.
