Obituary for James A. Arpante
James A. “Jim” Arpante, 77, died on March 13, 2023, at his home in Pittsfield, Massachusetts.
Born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts on February 1, 1946, Jim was the son of Ermangello James A. and Dorothy Huska Arpante and brother of Michael and Richard. He was a 1963 graduate of Pittsfield High School. While there he was a member of the band and was on the football, hockey, and track teams. Jim attended Berkshire Community College. He then attended the University of Massachusetts, before graduating from Utica College of Syracuse University with a B.A. degree in political science and a minor in sociology. After completing his undergraduate work, Jim received a law degree from Syracuse University in 1972. While at the College of Law, Jim was a member of the graduate student organization and served as a research assistant. During the summer of 1971, while still in law school, Jim attended the advanced yeoman school at the U. S. Coast Guard Reserve Training Center in Yorktown, Virginia, where he finished first in his class. In 1974, Jim opened a law office on Route 20 in Lebanon Valley, New York, right next to the Showboat. In 1976, Jim rounded out his education with a master’s degree in criminal justice.
Over the years, Jim taught a variety of legal courses for the American Institute for Paralegal Studies as well as law courses at Berkshire Community College. As one who gave back to his community, Jim was elected to the Pittsfield city council, representing Ward 2 from 2002–2003 and was a delegate to the Massachusetts Democratic Party’s state convention from 2002–2006. Jim also served as president of UNICO for the 2006–2007 term. Jim was a proud citizen of Pittsfield. He celebrated the City as a bearded brother at the bicentennial in 1961 and again while serving on Pittsfield’s semiquincentennial committee in 2011.
Jim was a vital member of The Friends of the Berkshire Athenaeum and is credited with creating the advertising model used to showcase the Friends’ book sales. He will be remembered for his many contributions to the Friends as well as for his love of Italian cookbooks and books about the US Constitution.
Jim had a farm in Lanesboro for many years, where he had gardens and kept horses, chickens, and other livestock. He and his father shared a love for the farm as well as a keen interest in motorcycles. He is survived by many cousins and extended family members as well as his longtime friend Margaret Clarke.
A Mass of Remembrance for Jim was held on March 19, 2023 at St. Charles Church in Pittsfield. Donations in Jim’s memory may be made to the Friends of the Berkshire Athenaeum, 1 Wendell Avenue, Pittsfield, MA 01201.
Born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts on February 1, 1946, Jim was the son of Ermangello James A. and Dorothy Huska Arpante and brother of Michael and Richard. He was a 1963 graduate of Pittsfield High School. While there he was a member of the band and was on the football, hockey, and track teams. Jim attended Berkshire Community College. He then attended the University of Massachusetts, before graduating from Utica College of Syracuse University with a B.A. degree in political science and a minor in sociology. After completing his undergraduate work, Jim received a law degree from Syracuse University in 1972. While at the College of Law, Jim was a member of the graduate student organization and served as a research assistant. During the summer of 1971, while still in law school, Jim attended the advanced yeoman school at the U. S. Coast Guard Reserve Training Center in Yorktown, Virginia, where he finished first in his class. In 1974, Jim opened a law office on Route 20 in Lebanon Valley, New York, right next to the Showboat. In 1976, Jim rounded out his education with a master’s degree in criminal justice.
Over the years, Jim taught a variety of legal courses for the American Institute for Paralegal Studies as well as law courses at Berkshire Community College. As one who gave back to his community, Jim was elected to the Pittsfield city council, representing Ward 2 from 2002–2003 and was a delegate to the Massachusetts Democratic Party’s state convention from 2002–2006. Jim also served as president of UNICO for the 2006–2007 term. Jim was a proud citizen of Pittsfield. He celebrated the City as a bearded brother at the bicentennial in 1961 and again while serving on Pittsfield’s semiquincentennial committee in 2011.
Jim was a vital member of The Friends of the Berkshire Athenaeum and is credited with creating the advertising model used to showcase the Friends’ book sales. He will be remembered for his many contributions to the Friends as well as for his love of Italian cookbooks and books about the US Constitution.
Jim had a farm in Lanesboro for many years, where he had gardens and kept horses, chickens, and other livestock. He and his father shared a love for the farm as well as a keen interest in motorcycles. He is survived by many cousins and extended family members as well as his longtime friend Margaret Clarke.
A Mass of Remembrance for Jim was held on March 19, 2023 at St. Charles Church in Pittsfield. Donations in Jim’s memory may be made to the Friends of the Berkshire Athenaeum, 1 Wendell Avenue, Pittsfield, MA 01201.