Obituary of James F. Taormina

James Fedele Taormina James was 80 when he passed peacefully at home on August 9th after a long battle with CAD, prostate cancer and Alzheimer's disease. He was married to Geraldine Taormina for 58 years. He was predeceased by his parents, James and Jennie Taormina and son, James Christopher who passed at age 20. He was a graduate of Fordham University's now defunct College of Pharmacy, Class of 1956. On the morning of graduation from Fordham he received his commission into the Army at the rank of Second Lieutenant. He was also granted a one-year extension by the Army in order to fulfill his New Jersey requirement of a one year apprenticeship in Pharmacy and to take and pass the Pharmacy Licensing test. He was then sent to Fort Sam Houston located in San Antonio, Texas. After many weeks of intense Army Medical Corps training, he was assigned to the Valley Forge Army Hospital as the head of the pharmacy there. After his two year tour of duty was complete in August of 1959, he was assigned to a Reserve Unit in Newark to complete his Army obligations, which he did until the year 1963. He resigned his commission at the rank of First Lieutenant and was honorably discharged. After Jim was out of active service, he worked for a two-man pharmacy partnership and worked in one week's time some days in Wayne and other days in New Foundland Pharmacy. Later Jim partnered with Allen Gifford and opened Community Pharmacy in Dover, NJ. The store was open for 33 years. They retired and sold the store in 1999. The Taorminas have four surviving children: Andrew Taormina (Margaret Donegan), Therese Leeds, Jeanne Montemarano (husband Mark) and Matthew Taormina (wife Maria). There are 8 grandchildren: Carla Kachelreiss (husband Kevin), Nicolas Taormina (Debbie Rotella), Michael Taormina (Megan Hutchison), Kristen Taormina, Rachel Taormina, Lindsey Taormina, Nicole Olmsted (husband Bill), and Toni Montemarano. There are 6 great-grandchildren: Noah, Ani, Carter, Bennett, Noelle and Jakob. Jim was an avid golfer with a hole in one to his credit and an excellent bowler with a 258 game to his credit. Jim was a parishioner of St. Mary's Church where he was a substitute usher, he and his wife headed the Nocturnal Adoration Society and at one time he worked on the St. Mary's Social Society with his wife. James will be waked at the Norman Dean Home for Services on Thursday, August 13th from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. A mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, August 14th at 10:00 a.m. at St. Mary's Church in Denville. Any donations made in his name may be sent to the Alzheimer's Association or the Cancer Society of America.