James R. Crispo

James R. “Jim” Crispo of Reading passed away peacefully surrounded by family and loved ones on August 17, 2024, at the age of 94. 

Jim grew up in Somerville’s Magoun Square and attended Boston College High School in Boston’s South End. He served honorably in the Korean War achieving the rank of Airman First Class in the Air Force. He went on to work in the airlines industry for nearly 50 years as a flight engineer for Eastern Airlines and then as a lead mechanic for US Air. 

Early in his career, he met his beloved wife Janet (Cahill) who was a stewardess with Eastern Airlines. They were married for 53 years before the time of her passing in 2019. Jim was fiercely independent to the end and always remained active passing his time by golfing, working around the house, and the occasional visit to the racetrack. He loved his Boston sports teams and was a diehard Red Sox fan, hardly ever missing a game on tv. 

In addition to his wife Janet, Jim was predeceased by his parents, Leon and Lena (Phillion); brothers Leon, Timothy, Rev. John Crispo, Alfred, Robert, Freddy, and Phillip; sisters Rita (Collins), Mary (Eremian), and Margaret “Peggy” (Larivee). Beloved father of David and his wife Carroll, Laura, Julie (Rossetti) and her husband Lawrence, Mark and his wife Zuleika. Cherished grandfather of Olivia and John. He is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews. 

Jim was a man of faith and family and friends are kindly invited to gather and share memories with the family on Friday August 23rd, 2024 in the Doherty Barile Family Funeral Home 11 Linden St. READING from 9 am to 10 am followed by a Funeral Mass Celebrating James Eternal Life in St. Agnes Church 186 Woburn St. Reading at 10:30 am. Interment Puritan Lawn Memorial Park Peabody. 

Please consider donations in memory of Jim to Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers, donate.maryknoll.org, P.O. Box 302, Maryknoll, NY 10545.