Gerrard – James S. “Jimmy D” DeDonato, 52, passed away unexpectedly, Saturday, April 8, 2023, at his home.
Jimmy was born on January 12, 1971, in Youngstown, the son of Carmen J. DiDonato Jr. and Clara Wilkinson DiDonato.
Jimmy graduated in 1989 from Girard High School. In his youth, Jimmy played football and baseball for many years and was an outstanding athlete. Jimmy was a starting quarterback at Girard High School and won Trumbull County Offensive Player of the Year and was voted to the Trumbull County high school baseball team. He also played Class B baseball for Sam Cummins for coach Tony Gurvitt. Jimmy enjoyed giving back to the community by coaching the Gerard Youth Sparkle Market baseball team. Jimmy was a huge Ohio State and New York Yankees fan.
He has proudly served his country in the Navy as a Petty Officer Second Class (E5) aboard the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) as a Nuclear Electric Fellow. He performed monitoring, maintenance, and training duties for the ship’s nuclear propulsion plant, reactor control systems, and power generation systems.
Jimmy has also given back to the community with his longstanding membership as an officer, serving as Vice President from 2014 to 2024 and also serving as 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 fund Girard High School’s annual athletic scholarships. He was also a member of Hubbard’s Marconi Club. Jimmy has played in many golf tournaments over the years, including The Amen Corner Golf League and The Sforza Golf League. He also played bocce for the IFH team and the Hungry Hearts Bocce team.
Jimmy has served as Northeast Regional Sales Director for ResMart since 2024 and previously spent more than 20 years as Midwest Regional Sales Director 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 his many family and friends.
He succeeded his father, Carmen J. Didonato Jr. by Gerard. His brother, Christopher A. Didonato (Nicole) of Bourbon; his sister Danielle (Anthony) Marsco by Gerrard; his grandmother, Michelina DiDonato of Niles; Plus his nieces and nephews Christopher, Dominic, Anthony, Gina, Joseph, Paisley, and CJ.
Jimmy’s death was preceded by his mother, Clara, and brother, Carmen J. Didonato III.
A Celebration of Life will take place at 4 p.m. on 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 an expression of sympathy to the family.
(special notice)