Vincent “Jim” Ramunno of Sag Harbor died at home on May 10. He was 82.
Born in Sag Harbor on October 24, 1932, to Concetta DelMonaco and Paul Ramunno, he attended St. Andrew’s School and Pierson High School. He served two years in the U.S. Army and was stationed in Korea from 1953 to 1954. While in Korea, he served with the Korean Military Advisory Group, which trained the Koreans to fight in the war.
After his discharge at the rank of corporal, he returned home to resume working at the Bulova Watchcase Factory, where he was a diamond setter. It was there that he met Evelyn Ruppel of Bridgehampton, whom he married in 1955. He was also employed for a short time at Agawam Aircraft as a toolmaker. His main interest was construction, and for 42 years, he was a construction manager with Meadowmere Construction Company of Southampton.
A dedicated volunteer fireman for 59 years, he served the department in many offices and rose to the rank of chief in 1976. He served on the Sag Harbor Zoning Board of Appeals and served two terms as Sag Harbor Village Trustee and as deputy mayor during the Pierce Hance administration.
One of his greatest interests took hold in the 1960s, when with a group of friends he joined the Jim Malone 34 modified race team and Saturday night racing at Riverhead Raceway. His interest in racing continued all through his life. Other interests included hunting, fishing, and working the local bays and fields. As a teenager, he crewed with Cappy Amundsen, sailing the Peconic. In his later years, he enjoyed a weekly game of pinochle with his friends at the firehouse.
Survivors describe Mr. Ramunno as a family man. He was proud to help his five children and two grandchildren construct their own homes. The family often gathered for summer Sundays by the family pool with “Big Poppy.”
Mr. Ramunno is survived by his wife of 59 years, Evelyn; five children, Robin Mazzeo and husband Vincent, Jan Federico and husband Joe, Paul Ramunno and wife Anne Reidy, David Ramunno and Evelynne Ramunno; seven grandchildren, Nicholas Mazzeo and wife Christine Rozzi, Lauryn Mazzeo-Weeks and husband Joey, Jordan and Jake Federico, Sydney Ramunno, Paul and Saverio Anderson; three great-grandchildren, Dominic, Gabriella and Enzo Mazzeo; and a nephew, Robert Kisleyak and wife Teri.
He was predeceased by his parents and by his sisters and brothers-in-law, Adeline and Robert Otten and Lucille and Robert Kisleyak.
Funeral arrangements were under the direction of the Yardley and Pino Funeral Home.
Memorial donations may be made to the Sag Harbor Ambulance Corps, P.O. Box 2725, Sag Harbor, NY 11963; Sag Harbor Fire Department, P.O. Box 209, Sag Harbor, NY 11963; or the Sag Harbor Food Pantry, P.O. Box 1241, Sag Harbor, NY 11963.
on May 25, 2015