James Arthur Calcagnini
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Published in Stamford Advocate & Darien Times & The New Haven Register on December 9, 2021
James Arthur Calcagnini passed away peacefully at his home in Darien, CT on December 7, 2021 after a courageous battle against ALS. He is survived by family he adored: his wife DeAnne, his children Addison and Jake, his parents Donald and Joyce, his twin brother Tom, and his sister Elise. James was an incredibly generous, caring, and fun-loving person. His energy, passion and infectious joy for life will be missed by all who were lucky enough to know him.
James was born on February 9th, 1962 in West Islip, NY. He grew up in Hamden, Connecticut and attended Hopkins School in New Haven. He is a proud graduate of Notre Dame University and remained an ardent fan of the Fighting Irish ever since.
James began his career as a clerk for B&J commodities on the floor of the New York Board of Trade, where he thrived in the fanfare of the pits. He quickly went on to become a commodities trader, and later, a broker, founding his business, East Coast Options Services, in 1992 with his partner Bob Cione. He was a former Board member of the NYBOT and through his service on numerous exchange committees, he was instrumental in revising many exchange rules to adapt to changes in the industry.
Above all else, James was a man compassion, faith and charity. He devoted countless hours to helping others and was an involved member of St. John’s Church in Darien. He served as a Board Member and Treasurer of Pacific House in Stamford for nearly a decade, aiming to end homelessness in Lower Fairfield County. He was named their 2018 gala honoree in recognition of his commitment to the cause. His faithfulness to the Catholic Church and its charitable mission led him to be invested as a Knight of the Order of Malta in 2019.
James was a highly competitive athlete, always seeking his personal best. Whether on the tennis or paddle court, the baseball field, or even out for a leisurely jog on the street, James would never settle for anything less than first place. He applied this attitude to his fight against ALS. From the moment he received the diagnosis, James was steadfast in his conviction that he would not let ALS defeat him. He dove headlong into the quest to find a cure. Being in the unique position of having an identical twin, he and his brother contributed to research that will forever impact our understanding of this illness and ultimately lead us to the cure. ALS did not win this battle. James did.
James has gone too soon, but he leaves behind a legacy of faith, love, and good times that every one who knew him will never forget. He had a knack for making everyone feel that they were special and has changed countless lives with his loving presence.
James’ wake will take place at Lawrence Funeral Home, 2119 Post Rd in Darien on Sunday, December 12th from 4-6pm. His funeral will be officiated by Monsignor Powers at St. John’s Church, 1986 Post Rd. Darien on Monday, December 13th at 11am. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to CCALS.org.
FUNERAL HOME
Lawrence Funeral Home
2119 Boston Post Rd
Darien, CT
UPCOMING SERVICE
Wake
Dec, 12 2021
4:00p.m. – 6:00p.m.
Lawrence Funeral Home
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