James S. DeDonato 1971-2023

Jimmy was born Jan. 12, 1971, in Youngstown, a son to Carmen J. DeDonato Jr. and Clara Wilkinson DeDonato.

Jimmy was a 1989 graduate of Girard High School. In his youth, Jimmy played many years of football and baseball and was an outstanding athlete. Jimmy was the starting quarterback at Girard High School and went on to be named All Trumbull County Offensive Player of the Year and was voted to the Trumbull County Baseball All Star Team in high school. He also played Class B baseball for Sam Camens for coach Tony Gorvet. Jimmy enjoyed giving back to the community by coaching Girard Youth’s Sparkle Market baseball team. Jimmy was an avid Ohio State Buckeyes and New York Yankees fan.

He proudly served his country in the Navy as a petty officer second class (E5) onboard the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) as a nuclear electrician’s mate. He performed watch standing, maintenance and training duties for the ship’s nuclear propulsion plant, reactor controls and power generation systems.

Jimmy also gave back to the community through his longtime membership as an officer, serving as the vice president from 2014 to 2022 and also served as the secretary, of the Italian Fraternal Home (IFH) in Girard. He also ran several golf outings, including The Paul Shelby Memorial Golf Outing for many years, which helped to fund annual Girard High School athletic scholarships. He was also a member of the Marconi Club of Hubbard. Jimmy played in many golf leagues through the years, including The Amen Corner Golf League and The Sforza Golf League. He also played bocce on the IFH bocce team and for Hungry Hearts Bocce teams.

Jimmy had worked as a Northeast Region sales executive for ResMart since 2021, and had previously spent over 20 years as a Midwest regional sales manager with Rimtec Manufacturing Corporation and Riken Americas Corporation.

In his spare time, Jimmy enjoyed golfing, fishing and was a boating enthusiast.

Jimmy will be greatly missed by all his many family and friends.

He is survived by his father, Carmen J. DeDonato Jr. of Girard; his brother, Christopher A. DeDonato (Nicole) of Pierpont; his sister, Danielle (Anthony) Marsco of Girard; his grandmother, Michelina DeDonato of Niles; as well as his nieces and nephews, Christopher, Dominic, Anthony, Gina, Joseph, Paisley and CJ.

Jimmy was preceded in death by his mother, Clara, and brother, Carmen J. DeDonato III.

A celebration of life will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday, April 29, 2023, at the Italian Fraternal Home (IFH), 33 W. Wilson Ave., Girard, OH 44420. All family and friends are welcome to attend.

Visit www.blackstonefuneralhome.com to view this obituary and to send any expressions of sympathy to the family.

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