James Anthony Spallina

     Gainesville, FL -  James A. Spallina, 96, died peacefully on September 11, 2023. He was born June 7, 1927, in Rochester, NY. The son of Rosario and Mary (Bonanno) Spallina, James graduated from Ben Franklin High School Class of 1944. Following graduation, James served in the U.S. Navy on the USS Tarawa during World War II. James graduated from the Rochester Institute of Technology in 1950. He worked at Eastman Kodak in Rochester, NY, as a designer draftsman, where he met his soon to be bride, Audrey Swort. They were married on December 29,1951 and settled in Rochester, NY. James and Audrey celebrated over 71 years of a loving marriage together. While living in Erie, PA, James held a position as Corporate Director of Quality Assurance and Reliability at American Sterilizer Corporation. He was Quality Control Advisor to Penn State University, Chairman of the Erie Chamber of Commerce and sang with the Erie Philharmonic Choir. James was a devout Catholic and served as an Eucharistic Minister and a loyal member of the Knights of Columbus. James was an avid racquetball player, an excellent bridge partner and gardener. James and Audrey retired in LaBelle, FL, in 1988. 

     In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his son Richard in 1977 and later by his sisters Rose and Lucy. Surviving in addition to his wife, Audrey (Swort) Spallina, are his sons Robert and wife Jeanette of Smethport, PA; James A. Spallina Jr. and wife Lori Hunt of Archer FL; and Stephen Spallina of Archer, FL. He is also survived by four grandchildren, Jesse Spallina and wife Alex; Stephanie (Spallina) Robinson and husband James and their daughter Angel; Rachel (Spallina) Etcheverry and husband Thomas and their daughter Audrey; Jayson Spallina and loving nieces, nephews and friends.