JAMES A. ARPANTE, 91, of 300 Pecks Road, Pittsfield, died Sunday morning at the home of his son, attorney James Arpante of 247 Dalton Avenue. Born Ermangello Arpante in Dalton on April 18, 1918, he was the son of Luigi and Luisa Altobelli Arpante. His family moved to Pittsfield when he was a young boy and he was educated in Pittsfield schools. His teachers at Pomeroy School insisted on calling him James because they did not want their students to have un-American names. This was confirmed by one of his former grade school teachers. He was affectionately known as Jeedo to family and close friends. He was employed for 36 years in the power transformer department of General
Electric Company. He retired in 1979 to spend time with his family and ailing wife.
They traveled extensively especially enjoying ocean beaches and religious destinations
as well as scenic drives throughout the countryside. He had also been employed at the
Berkshire Woolen Company, Brown's Express, The Springs Restaurant, Nash Steel,
Associated Transport, and as a landscape gardener on several estates in Lenox. Mr.
Arpante worked two jobs most of his adult life. He was particularly proud of being
able to send his son, James, to law school and see him become a lawyer.
He was the first Pittsfield resident to be drafted into the Army when the United
States entered World War Two. He was drafted on January 1, 1942. He served in
Company C, 668th Tank Destroyer Battalion out of Camp Hood Texas. He received an
honorable discharge. He had also honorably served four years in the Massachusetts
National Guard, Company I, Third Battalion, 104th Infantry before he was drafted.
He was a life member of American Legion Post 155 in Dalton and a member of the North Adams Eagles.
He was an avid motorcyclist for many years. He was the first Yamaha motorcycle dealer in Berkshire County and attended the first Yamaha Motor Company Service school in Philadelphia in 1962. He also attended Parilla Motorcycle service school and was skilled in small engine repair. He enjoyed attending motorcycle races
and events at New Lebanon, New York, Laconia, New Hampshire, and Daytona Beach,
Florida, as well as throughout New York and New England with his son James.
He was an avid and accomplished gardener having won many ribbons at regional agricultural fairs. He loved spending time at his son's farm in Lanesborough tending to his pet mules, chickens, and garden.
He enjoyed hunting, fishing, mushrooming, and blueberrying. He was especially
happy when in the company of his sons.
Mr. Arpante was a devout Catholic. He was a communicant of the former Mount Carmel Church for over 80 years until its closing.
His wife, the former Dorothy C. Huska, died on July 30, 1984. He leaves two sons, attorney James Arpante with whom he made his home
and Richard Arpante who visited his father every day. He was predeceased by
another son, Michael J. Arpante, who died in 1999. He leaves one brother, Richard Arpante of Pittsfield and two sisters, Arlene
DiNicola of Pittsfield and Beatrice Barris of Pittsfield. He was pre-deceased by three brothers, Henry Arpante, Augustus Arpante, and Mario Arpante, and three sisters, Grace
Arpante, Clara Pictrowski, and Viola Guachione.
He was an exceedingly loving, kind, and generous husband, father, and
friend.

FUNERAL NOTICE: Funeral services for JAMES A. ARPANTE, who died Sunday, May 31, will be
Thursday, June 4, at 9:15 a.m., from DERY FUNERAL HOME, with a Liturgy
of Christian Burial at 10:00 a.m., at St. Charles Church celebrated by Rev. Peter A.
Gregory, Pastor. Burial will follow in St. Joseph's Cemetery. Calling hours will be
Wednesday, June 3, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Funeral Home.

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