His dad had seen active service in WWII in the 8th Army Air Force serving on board a ship. He passed away in 2005. Jim had visited Greece, outside Sparta, the place where his grandparents came from. At the time of our interview Jim’s mother was 85 and residing in an Assisted Living residence in Bohemia. She had been divorced from his father and had lived there for several years. The family had all lived for a time in Jamaica, Queens. He remembers the elevated train. Back then, his dad who was creative with his hands, made Lincoln Logs for Jim before a patent for them was obtained by someone else. Their family was close. They moved to North Belmore, about 1949-50 and by 1952 moved into the house his dad had built with his own hands. It turned out to be too much for the family, so they sold it and moved to one more affordable. He described a huge acre of a backyard and riding bareback to a local swimming hole, across the farm and through the orchard. His dad also made him many wooden toys and scooters. The first neighborhood schools he attended were in Belmore and North Belmore. He was eventually bussed to others, like the Jr High on Jerusalem Ave and Mephem High School in North Belmore.
     Mr. Juliano was both his 6th grade teacher and a role model. Jim joined the Sea Scouts and for the first time became a teacher at the age of 12. His first paying job was that of paper boy. He loved sports, wrestling, science, and social studies. He has fond memories of the aroma of apple blossoms and flowers. He especially enjoyed competing against his old high school team, and the most fun part was competing against his brothers North Belmore team. He earned his BA from Oswego University and two Masters from Stony Brook U. and Middle School Certification in Health Education (Science) from Hofstra. Jim once considered the Coast Guard as an alternative to teaching. He spoke of Eric, his grandchild of 2 years, his brother who had taught for 25 years in Valley Stream and his other siblings who were a Dental Hygienist, teacher, stay at home dad, Social Worker and employee of the Water Authority.
     He arrived at West Middle in 1970 where he remained for 8 years before moving to the Ross Building for the next 12.  George Mann was helpful. The growth of the District was good for him. He could have gone to Half Hollow Hills or Oswego, but never regretted the decision to come to Brentwood. He enjoyed his career in Brentwood and coaching wrestling. In the early days in Brentwood he did some cave exploration and mountain climbing upstate followed by some cleanup trips by bike to Montauk. Jeff Dwyer recruited him at Oswego, and offered him a job. Vietnam was still going on when he came to Brentwood, which granted him a deferment. He believed in providing practical application of science for kids in their daily lives. His focus was to enjoy his time where ever he was, maintaining a high passing ratio, getting through to less able students, mentoring the Science Olympiad, teaching different classes and “Silent Spring”. He was voted Teacher of the Year 1988 and became advisor to (40) Students Against Driving Drunk (SADD). He remembers his former colleagues, among them, Sam Weissman who left industry and became a teacher later in life. Jim mc’d Sam’s retirement party and always had a sense of purpose. He was Chief Delegate and Executive Council member for years, had wonderful colleagues, many students who became teachers, learned from Bobbi Frankel, who conducted humanistic classes. He spoke of ROMEO (retired old men eating out)and of the Importance of Unions, fairness, wages, laws, having never been afraid, the loss of field trips. Why now?  The time was right. College loans were paid off. He enjoyed his retirement at 8:03 every day. He misses the kids, their stories, adding up scholarship monies,  split session years, the temp buildings, afternoon sessions 1pm – 6pm. “Brentwood Teachers are the best” he said, and Brentwood students are “hard working and the best in the world”.