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STAMFORD, Conn. -- James Palma, Sr. of Stamford, died at his home on Sunday, Jan. 18. He was 88.
Palma was born on Staten Island on Jan. 29, 1926 to the late Joseph A. and Marie Moore Palma. He grew up in Staten Island, and met Alexanderina (Sandy) O'Neill, his wife of 59 years, at his best friend's wedding.
After serving in the US Navy during WWII, Palma attended University of Miami where he played basketball.
He was the business manager at the first Ford dealership on Staten Island - Palma Ford. Moving to Stamford, he worked at Healey Ford and later at Minchin Buick as their business manager.
Palma is survived by his wife Alexanderina, his children James G. Palma, Jr., his wife Kathleen B. Palma and their children Timothy and Rebecca of West Hartford, Conn.; Larry P. Palma and his wife Lori F. Palma and children Kelly and Alison of Stamford, Conn.; John A. Palma of Fairfield, Conn., his son-in-law Gregory M. Smith of Newport Beach, Calif., and Smith's child, Gregory Jr. of Brooklyn, N.Y.; and Erin Smith Hansen and her husband Kevin Hansen along with his grandchildren Elizabeth (Lizzie) and William Gregory James of Lake Forest, Calif. He is also survived by his brother Raymond Palma and his wife Margaret Palma of Brick, N.J., and his sister, Sister Eileen M. Palma, IHM, Immaculate Heart of Mary Center of Scranton, Penn.
He was predeceased by eight older siblings, Marie, Joseph, John (Fr. Greg, OFM), David, Robert, Alice Wilcken, George (Bud) and Richard Palma.
Visitation will be Wednesday from 4 – 8 p.m. at the Nicholas F. Cognetta Funeral Home, 104 Myrtle Ave., Stamford. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, Jan. 22, at 10 a.m. at St. John Roman Catholic Church, 1986 Boston Post Road, Darien. Burial will follow immediately at Lakeview Cemetery, South Main Street, New Canaan.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests a donation be made to: St. John Fisher Seminary, 894 Newfield Ave., Stamford, CT 06905-2518 or to Immaculate Heart of Mary Center, 2300 Adams Ave., Scranton, PA 18509-1598
To leave online condolences, please visit www.cognetta.com.
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