FAYETTEVILLE — James Francesco Parisi

died of kidney disease on January 2, 2024 at Circle of Life Hospice, Springdale, Ark. Jim was born in 1933 and was raised in Newark, N.J. His parents, Nicholas Parisi, an immigrant from Campobosso, Italy, and Evelyn Parisi were both employed by Ford Motor Company. At Leonia H.S. Jim participated in the drama club and acted in stage productions, and at ‘summer stock’ theatres in New Jersey and New York.

Jim received a four-year acting scholarship and graduated from Ithaca College, N.Y., in 1954 with a BS in Education. Jim’s enlistment in 1955 brought him to the Washington, D.C. area, where he was the announcer and narrator for “The Army Hour” weekly radio show, and for the prestigious US Army Field Band.

Jim studied communication at American University, and in 1960 joined the USIA’s Voice of America (VOA), where he continued his radio career producing award winning English language programs broadcast worldwide for the show “Americana,” and reporting for the science and space program during the moon launches. At VOA he met Kathleen (Katy) Peters, to whom he was married for 60 years, until his death. He retired from 25 years of service in the federal government, and continued his film, TV, radio and stage acting, and freelance radio production. His most notable role was the “Governor’s Aide” in the John Waters film “Hairspray.”

After 26 years living in McLean, Va., Jim and Katy relocated to the community of Fleetwood Plaza atop Jump Off Mountain in Hendersonville, N.C. In the final year of his life, Jim (and Katy) lived at Ciel of Fayetteville, Ark.

He is survived by his wife; son, Adam (Anita) Parisi; and daughter, Joy (Bryan) Cornell; brother, Anthony (Sue) Parisi; and grandsons, Joshua (Elianah), Matthew, Zachary, and Luke (Madison) Parisi.

As his remains have been donated to a medical school, no services will be held. The family requests that remembrance donations may be sent to either Circle of Life Hospice https://nwacircleoflife.com/ or Ciel Senior Living of Fayetteville https://cielseniorliving.com/community/https://cielseniorliving.com/community/ciel-of-fayetteville/Employee Holiday fund, Fayetteville, Ark.