James D. Spirito

James Daniel Spirito died peacefully on October 1, 2026, surrounded by his wife and children. He was born in Providence, Rhode Island, to his late parents, Andrew and Marie Spirito. He was the third of four siblings: his older sister, Annmarie; his late brother, Andrew; and his younger sister, Eleanor. He leaves behind his beloved wife, Louann; his son Dean; daughter, Malina, son-in-law, Jamie, and his cherished grandchildren, Quinn and Lyla Grist.

Jim was a Veteran of the United States Army, serving in Vietnam from 1969-1971. Upon his return, he met his beloved wife, Louann, which began their 55-year life together.

Jim owned and operated K&S Building Supply and selflessly took pride in providing generously for his family. He always wished the best for everyone. He was quick to help where needed and expected nothing in return. He was humble and never sought to be the center of attention. That said, he had a sharp, intelligent and dry wit that could stop you in your tracks and make you take notice.

Jim appreciated aesthetics and took great pleasure in maintaining a meticulous home and property. We share many memories of excessive lawn watering, endless polishing of the counters, and copious detailing of the cars. He never shied away from a chance to decorate or seek out new furnishings. He had a keen eye for how things should look—and he was not afraid to let you know when they didn’t quite meet his standards.

He loved television and film; we send our regrets to TV Guide, as they are grieving the loss of their longest standing customer. He loved music and enjoyed listening to “Breakfast with the Beatles” every Sunday on Q104.3 radio. He also believed strongly in keeping up with the news, sometimes going as far as reading five newspapers a day—always in print. He never did adopt the habit of reading articles online, though he was certainly known to ask you to call up Google to ask something, at least until Alexa came around.

Jim also enjoyed going to the movies and exploring new restaurants with Louann and their friends. He loved to surprise Louann with trips so they could enjoy time together, away from their busy work lives. Jim always supported Louann’s career, which required long hours and frequent travel. His work hours afforded him the opportunity to become master of the laundry (he could get out any stain, including permanent hair dye from a white shirt) and the weeknight chef. While he was truly a wonderful cook, he was never one for recipes and we loved to joke that anything he made was “never to be duplicated.”

Most of all, Jim cherished his family. He was incredibly thoughtful, often surprising them with thoughtful gifts and gestures. He even learned to ski at the age of 50 because he knew how much Louann and his kids loved it. Though it certainly wasn’t his favorite activity, he was determined to learn and was able to enjoy multiple family ski vacations to Vermont, Colorado, and New Mexico.

Jim was incredibly proud of his children and their academic and professional accomplishments. He had high expectations and pushed them to succeed, but only because he recognized their potential and didn’t want them to settle for less. He witnessed Malina earn her doctorate and establish a successful career as a leader in the field of maternal mental health, as well as Dean’s entrepreneurial success and rise to becoming a professional ski coach. In his final year, Jim relished watching Dean as he made his debut as a U.S. Ski Coach for the 2026 Winter Olympics.

He delighted in watching his grandchildren, Quinn and Lyla (his dollies, as he called them), grow and learn. Quinn’s first steps were straight into his Papa’s arms, and he was so grateful to have caught that on video. He marveled at Lyla’s strength on the monkey bars and her incredible hide-and-seek skills. He took genuine joy in watching them become their own people and was endlessly proud of who they were becoming.

Jim leaves behind a family who will miss his quiet presence, his discerning eye, his dry sense of humor, and the countless ways—both big and small—he showed his love. There are no words that can truly capture his personality and what he meant to so many. His memory and lasting impact will be cherished by all who were lucky enough to know him.