BANNON, JAMES SAMUEL

BANNON, JAMES SAMUEL
James (Jim) Samuel Bannon (Buonanno), was released from his earthly body on August 25, 2024, at the age of 94. Born on March 4, 1930, and raised in the Germantown section of Philadelphia, he was the son of Michael H. Bannon, Sr. and Anna Castagna Bannon. Jim carried the spirit of his hometown with him throughout his life.
James devoted his heart and life to his beloved wife of nearly 70 years, Margaret M. (Ferrante) Bannon. Together, they built a family they were immensely proud of, including their daughters Kim Bannon-Van Leeuwen (Kenneth) and Santa Bannon-Shillea (Thomas). He took great joy in being a grandfather to CWO2 James-Michael Bannon, United States Coast Guard, (Lindsey) and adored his great-grandchildren Giovanna, Genevieve, and Blaise. He cherished visits with his five step-grandchildren, godchildren, and extended family. Jim was predeceased by his parents, his only sibling Michael H. Bannon, Jr., and his dear cousin Michael Di Pasquale.
Before beginning his professional life, Jim honorably served in the U.S. Army Air Corps, stationed in Guam for 18 months. As a skilled machinist, he produced military armaments for Midvale-Heppenstall Steel in Nicetown for 20 years. He later ventured into entrepreneurship, establishing J&B Plumbing and HVAC in Cherry Hill, NJ. After years of hard work, Jim and Margaret retired to Sea Isle City from Cherry Hill, finding peace and community by the bay.
Jim attended the Fitler School in Logan. As a consummate nonconformist, he rejected formal higher education. He was an autodidact and intellectual who devoured books on philosophy, world religions, history, astronomy, and the arts. He could engage in conversation on nearly any topic and thrived on lively discourse.
Throughout his long life, Jim pursued a wide array of interests which significantly influenced his daughters and grandson. In his youth, he was an avid golfer, a passion sparked during his time as a caddy at the prestigious Merion Country Club. Later in life, he enjoyed skiing. A veritable encyclopedia of music, Jim regularly attended live performances of the greats in big band, swing, jazz, and Bossa Nova at iconic venues like the Latin Casino in Philadelphia/Cherry Hill and the 500 Club in Atlantic City, where he would meet his future wife.
Jim found creative expression in both performing and visual arts. He played the piano, a skill he taught himself by ear, and was an audiophile, collecting and even building his own hi-fi stereo systems. His love of music was something he passed on to his daughters, taking them to concerts like The Beatles and Tom Jones simply because they asked. He also enjoyed drawing from childhood into his senior years and was passionate about photography, utilizing all formats of cameras and maintaining a darkroom in his home. Along with Margaret, they renovated five homes using old-world craftsmanship techniques passed down from his father and father-in-law both from Italy. On occasion, Jim would also showcase his culinary skills by making his famous Moussaka.
A lifelong “car guy,” Jim acquired and sold over 100 vehicles. With an affinity for British and Italian marques, particularly Jaguar and Alfa Romeo, he did make an exception for two American classics, his Shelby Mustang GT500 and his '63 Corvette split-window coupe. The bay also brought Jim much joy. He and Margaret enjoyed marina life with their first powerboat, named for their daughters, the KimmieSan. Later, they spent over a decade with their B Dock boating community living on their second cabin cruiser, the Margie B, moored at Avalon Point Marina.
Jim will be most fondly remembered for his quick wit, sharp sarcasm, and memorable nicknames. He could often be found holding court at the kitchen table on Friday evenings, Dewar's scotch in one hand, a More cigarette in the other, surrounded by family, his daughters' friends, and Haddontowne neighbors, his dry quips met with laughter, all to the sound of Sinatra in the background.
The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to the staff at Autumn Lake, Complete Care, Angelic Hospice, and Synergy for their compassionate care.
A viewing will be held on Tuesday, September 3rd, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Radzieta Funeral Home, 9 Hand Avenue, Cape May Court House, NJ. A second viewing will be held on Wednesday, September 4th, at Holy Cross Catholic Church, 140 East Mt. Airy Avenue, Philadelphia (Mt. Airy), PA, from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m., with a Mass of Christian Burial celebrated at 11:00 a.m. Interment will immediately follow at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, 3301 W. Cheltenham Avenue, Philadelphia (Cheltenham), PA. Repast TBA. For further information, visit www.radzieta.com.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Jim's honor may be made to a veterans' organization of your choice or to St. Joseph Catholic Church in Sea Isle City, NJ.
Condolences at www.radzieta.com