James Henry Tarmey

87, of Cranston, died peacefully at home, surrounded by his family on February 24, 2024 after a year and a half battle with acute myeloid leukemia.

He was a devoted husband of 62 years to Marjorie Castellucci Tarmey of Blackstone, MA. He was the loving father to Kerri Tarmey of Brooklyn, NY, Jamie Salisbury (Frank Salisbury) of Cumberland, RI, and Patrick Tarmey (Elizabeth Hettinger) of Newton, MA. He was a grandfather to four boys; Thomas Salisbury, Jake Salisbury, Edward Tarmey and his namesake James Tarmey.

He was born in Woonsocket, RI on January 4, 1937, the son of James and Margaret (Benvenuti) Tarmey. He was the older brother of Robert Tarmey (Paulette Lessard) of Woonsocket, RI. Jim graduated from Woonsocket High School in 1954 where he played both football and baseball, including on the 1952 WHS state championship baseball team. His love of sports fostered a lifelong interest in following his favorite teams; the Red Sox, Patriots, Bruins and Celtics. He was an original Patriots Schaefer Stadium season ticket holder starting in 1971 but gave up the tickets in the late 1970s due to family responsibilities. However, his favorite teams to follow were the hockey teams of his four grandsons. He traveled all over New England watching them play in various games and tournaments.

He served as a Forward Observer in the US Army, Eighth Infantry Division, Fifth Infantry Regiment from 1956-1958, primarily in Germany on the Czechoslovakian border, during the height of the Cold War. After honorable discharge, Jim went on to attend Providence College, graduating in 1962 with a degree in Sociology. He received a Master’s Degree in Psychology from Boston College in 1970. He worked for over 35 years as a School Psychologist in the West Warwick School Department. After retiring, he moved with his wife to Washington, DC and worked in the Frederick County, MD school district.

For many years he was an avid swimmer. He completed the two-mile open water Save the Bay swim across Narragansett Bay’s East Passage several times. His interests included military history, reading, hiking the White Mountains of NH and trails across RI, and, inspired by his love of adventure, traveling around the world and the country. The highlight of every summer for the last 26 years was the family’s annual vacation on Block Island, where he enjoyed swims at Scotch Beach, taking in sunsets and the night sky, and a couple of trips to Payne’s Killer Donuts.

He had an irreverent sense of humor and, like all Rhode Islanders, loved a good “small world” story. He derived great enjoyment from hearing not only about his family but about their friends as well. Although his last year was difficult as he struggled with his health, he maintained a positive attitude and fought through it with grace and dignity. He was a devoted husband who most enjoyed being with his wife and doing just about anything as long as she was by his side.

VISITING HOURS will be held in the NARDOLILLO FUNERAL HOME & Crematory, 1278 Park Avenue, Cranston on Saturday, March 2, 2024 from 12:00 – 1:30 pm. His funeral service will begin at 1:30 pm. Burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers, a donation in his memory can be made to the Block Island Conservancy, P. O. Box 84, Block Island, RI 02807 or online at: https://biconservancy.org/