James Raymond Detrio
March 25, 1927 — August 27, 2011
James Raymond Detrio
James Raymond Detrio – Our loving, kind, funny, generous, sweet father, grandpa, uncle, and friend to many passed away August 27, 2011. Jim, Daddy, Pa, G-pa Detrio, Jimmy Blue Eyes was the second son born to Mary Catherine Casey (Mae) and Joseph Anthony Detrio March 25, 1927 in Richmond Hill Long Island, New York.
Being raised during the depression, he was grateful for all he had and was hard-working from a very young age. He would take a subway into the city to attend church at St. Paul’s Cathedral where he was a alter/choir boy, attend elementary school, work shining shoes and deliver music sheets to Radio City Music Hall for the director.
Immediately after graduation from Newtown High School he enlisted in the Navy. At just 18 years old, he entered the Navy at the end of WWII. The war ended while at sea and he was part of the occupation of Japan. Dad was very athletic and played on the competitive Navy baseball team while in Japan. Upon returning from Japan dad made the switch from Navy to the Marine Corps where his only brother Joseph Detrio a JAG Marine performed the swearing in ceremony. Dad started college using the GI bill at University of Miami and later graduated a Rambling Wreck from Georgia Tech. Shortly before receiving his Chemical Engineering B.S., the Korean Conflict had begun. Unbeknownst to Dad, he arrived in Korea on May Day, a Communist holiday and their celebration included all night artillery which took the roof off his quarters. He survived Korea, but a very close call impacted him significantly when he was bringing supplies to the front line. He was wounded with shrapnel, but never felt the need to report it as all his fellow Marines did not survive and it was really hard for him to re-live the events in his mind up into his old age.
Dad was promoted to Captain and upon returning from Korea he worked for U.S. Rubber Co. in the NY Chrysler Building. He met a fellow Marine and our mother Maria Anita Gutierrez in Detroit Michigan where they fell in-love at first sight. They were wed and moved soon there after to Mexico City, Mexico while continuing to work for U.S. Rubber. Dad learned to read, write and speak Spanish fluently. He climbed the highest mountain in Mexico, Orizaba, among many other mountains. This union brought four children into this world; Linda Maria Majoris (Joe), Dianne Maria Pavao (Tony), James Casey Detrio, Dawn Maria Malan (Dave). Dad’s engineering career moved the family from Mexico, California, New York, Louisiana and finally to Utah. Mom & Dad were later divorced, but remained good friends.
He dearly loved Utah, the mountains and the landscape. Dad had a very extensive engineering career with many proud moments. He completed his career at Thiokol where he was assigned to the O-Ring fix of the solid rocket boosters after the Space Shuttle Challenger tragic crash in 1986, due to his knowledge of non-metallics and what a bambury rubber mixer was during a meeting. Our Rocket Scientist father worked on the fix and retired shortly after the first successful launch. The grandchildren (Jennifer Maria Cooley (Gareth), Roxanne Maria Schaffer, Casey James Detrio, David James Malan, Jessica Dawn Detrio, Leila Maria Naderi, Derek Max Malan, Desiree Dawn Malan, Great-Granddaughter Noah Valdeolivar) always knew he could solve any math problem they encountered or stop by for a hug, talk, watch a game or a bite to eat. Dad loved to sit on his deck of his home and feed the birds while looking up at the beautiful view of Ben Lomond Peak.
Dad was an avid sports fan and followed the Yankees since childhood where he would take the subway to attend the games in the bleacher section with mitt in hand. He was also a diehard Buffalo Bill fan and we will miss his ability to be our personal living room announcer where he would state things before the TV announcers almost word for word.
He loved to travel and for his 80th birthday we brought him to Italy where he was able to see and enjoy many amazing sites as well as the wonderful ship’s buffets.
We could not have asked for a better father and we are grateful for the 84 years he spent making each of us feel as though we were the most special.
Love you Daddy!
Funeral Mass will be held 11:00 Saturday September 3, 2011 at Saint James Catholic Church, 495 N Harrison Blvd., Ogden UT 84404. Interment at 13:00 Ben Lomond Cemetery 526 E 2850 N, Ogden, UT 84414 with military honors.
Dad would be honored if donations were made in his name to the National Mall where the Korean Memorial is located. https://www.nationalmall.org/donationform.php
Condolences for the family can sent via email by visiting: www.thompsonfuneral.net
Being raised during the depression, he was grateful for all he had and was hard-working from a very young age. He would take a subway into the city to attend church at St. Paul’s Cathedral where he was a alter/choir boy, attend elementary school, work shining shoes and deliver music sheets to Radio City Music Hall for the director.
Immediately after graduation from Newtown High School he enlisted in the Navy. At just 18 years old, he entered the Navy at the end of WWII. The war ended while at sea and he was part of the occupation of Japan. Dad was very athletic and played on the competitive Navy baseball team while in Japan. Upon returning from Japan dad made the switch from Navy to the Marine Corps where his only brother Joseph Detrio a JAG Marine performed the swearing in ceremony. Dad started college using the GI bill at University of Miami and later graduated a Rambling Wreck from Georgia Tech. Shortly before receiving his Chemical Engineering B.S., the Korean Conflict had begun. Unbeknownst to Dad, he arrived in Korea on May Day, a Communist holiday and their celebration included all night artillery which took the roof off his quarters. He survived Korea, but a very close call impacted him significantly when he was bringing supplies to the front line. He was wounded with shrapnel, but never felt the need to report it as all his fellow Marines did not survive and it was really hard for him to re-live the events in his mind up into his old age.
Dad was promoted to Captain and upon returning from Korea he worked for U.S. Rubber Co. in the NY Chrysler Building. He met a fellow Marine and our mother Maria Anita Gutierrez in Detroit Michigan where they fell in-love at first sight. They were wed and moved soon there after to Mexico City, Mexico while continuing to work for U.S. Rubber. Dad learned to read, write and speak Spanish fluently. He climbed the highest mountain in Mexico, Orizaba, among many other mountains. This union brought four children into this world; Linda Maria Majoris (Joe), Dianne Maria Pavao (Tony), James Casey Detrio, Dawn Maria Malan (Dave). Dad’s engineering career moved the family from Mexico, California, New York, Louisiana and finally to Utah. Mom & Dad were later divorced, but remained good friends.
He dearly loved Utah, the mountains and the landscape. Dad had a very extensive engineering career with many proud moments. He completed his career at Thiokol where he was assigned to the O-Ring fix of the solid rocket boosters after the Space Shuttle Challenger tragic crash in 1986, due to his knowledge of non-metallics and what a bambury rubber mixer was during a meeting. Our Rocket Scientist father worked on the fix and retired shortly after the first successful launch. The grandchildren (Jennifer Maria Cooley (Gareth), Roxanne Maria Schaffer, Casey James Detrio, David James Malan, Jessica Dawn Detrio, Leila Maria Naderi, Derek Max Malan, Desiree Dawn Malan, Great-Granddaughter Noah Valdeolivar) always knew he could solve any math problem they encountered or stop by for a hug, talk, watch a game or a bite to eat. Dad loved to sit on his deck of his home and feed the birds while looking up at the beautiful view of Ben Lomond Peak.
Dad was an avid sports fan and followed the Yankees since childhood where he would take the subway to attend the games in the bleacher section with mitt in hand. He was also a diehard Buffalo Bill fan and we will miss his ability to be our personal living room announcer where he would state things before the TV announcers almost word for word.
He loved to travel and for his 80th birthday we brought him to Italy where he was able to see and enjoy many amazing sites as well as the wonderful ship’s buffets.
We could not have asked for a better father and we are grateful for the 84 years he spent making each of us feel as though we were the most special.
Love you Daddy!
Funeral Mass will be held 11:00 Saturday September 3, 2011 at Saint James Catholic Church, 495 N Harrison Blvd., Ogden UT 84404. Interment at 13:00 Ben Lomond Cemetery 526 E 2850 N, Ogden, UT 84414 with military honors.
Dad would be honored if donations were made in his name to the National Mall where the Korean Memorial is located. https://www.nationalmall.org/donationform.php
Condolences for the family can sent via email by visiting: www.thompsonfuneral.net
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of James Raymond Detrio, please visit our flower store.
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