James J. Palmieri

James Joseph Palmieri, of South Weymouth, died on August 26, 2024 at the age of 104. He is now reunited with his loving and adored wife of 66 years, Evelyn Joanne (Brazas) Palmieri, who died in 2015.

Born in East Boston in 1920, Jim was the son of James and Vincenza (Matarazzo) Palmieri. He was raised in Roslindale along with his siblings Domenick and Henry Palmieri and Antonetta Hines, all of whom predeceased him.

Jim was a graduate of Boston English High School, the Lowell Institute School at MIT, and the New England Aircraft School. While he didn’t consider himself a “real Marine,” he served in the U.S. Marines with great honor from 1943 to 1946. As an Infantryman in the Sixth Marine Division, 22nd Regiment, Easy Company, he landed in the first wave on Green Beach One on the shores of Okinawa in April 1945. After 82 days of “mud and hell” he was one of four left standing from his original platoon. His division was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for their extraordinary heroism. After the war, he was deployed to Tsingtao, China, to support the surrender and repatriation of Japanese forces before finally returning home. In his reminiscences of his service, he always spoke with great fondness about his fellow Marines. 

Jim spent most of his career as an electrical engineer and district manager at New England Telephone before retiring in 1981. He then began a second career in service to his family and community as a carpenter, electrician, repairman, and builder of furniture. Relaxing at the end of a long day of deck-building or installing a screen door he had kept in the basement for just such an occasion, “Papa Fix” could be seen lifting a beer and declaring “This beats working!”

Generous, curious, and a great storyteller, Jim was an eternal optimist. He marveled at the technological developments he saw over a century of change, even joining social media in time to receive birthday greetings from far and wide for his 94th birthday. 

Among their volunteer activities, Jim and his wife Joanne found community and purpose as long-time members of the Weymouth Historical Society. Well into his 100th year, Jim spent Wednesdays at the society’s Jason Holbrook Homestead serving as curator, doing repairs, greeting visitors, and socializing with dear friends.

Jim leaves behind a large community of admirers, including his daughters Joanne Tighe of Northampton and Linda Chapman of Braintree; his grandchildren Valerie Taylor and her husband Alex of Providence, RI, Andrea Sandrin and her husband Sergio of Boynton Beach, FL, Melanie Schuster and her husband Colin of Easton, Christopher Chapman and his wife Stephanie of Arlington, and Elizabeth Boughan and David Tighe both of Northampton; his great-grandchildren Clara, Sebastian, Luke, Matthew, Emmett, RJ (Ryan James), Henry, and Rosemary; and many loving nieces and nephews. There will be a private graveside service at the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne.

 A celebration of life will be held at The Range Bar & Grille, 306 Whiting St. (Route 53) Hingham, MA 02043 September 7, 1:00 - 4:00 P.M.

Donations in Jim's name may be made to Weymouth Historical Society, 238 Park Avenue, Weymouth, MA 02190.