JAMES L. GRAGO

CANASTOTA- James L. Grago, 93, of Bruno Road, passed away, Saturday, July 24, 2021, in the Central Park Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, Syracuse, where he had been a resident for the past three weeks. Born in Syracuse on February 12, 1928, he was the son of Sam Grago and Mary Demario Grago, who passed away in 1935. His father then married Reatha Degroat. A lifelong resident of Canastota, Jim was a graduate of Canastota High School. He married Mary Drake on December 27, 1968. Mrs. Grago died on August 28, 2018. Prior to his retirement, Jim was employed by Stoneleigh Apartments and had previously been employed by General Electric and Conrail. He enjoyed cars and motorcycles and was a communicant of St. Agatha’s Church. To many, he was known as “Diamond Jim” but to all, he was their beloved Papa. Surviving are: four sons, Thomas and Maryann Grago of Albany, Richard and Dawn Grago of PA, James Grago and his fiancé Katie Mericle of CA and Bruce Brink of Syracuse; two daughters, Tammy Decker of Canastota and Terry and Mark Phillips of Syracuse; a granddaughter, Erica Backus of Canastota, who was raised by Jim and Mary and treated her as their daughter; twenty-six grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren; one sister and two brother-in-laws, Edna and Thomas Cooper and John Iaonne, all of Canastota; two brothers and sistersin-law, Sam and Nancy Grago of Canastota and Morrow and Susan Grago of FL; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by two sisters, Louise Pulverenti and Angela Iaonne. Funeral services will be held privately, at the convenience of the family, from the Campbell-dean Funeral Home, Inc., 300 South Peterboro Street, Canastota, with Rev. Anthony Tosti, officiating. Entombment will be made in Woodlawn Cemetery, Syracuse. There will be no public hours of visitation. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the International Boxing Hall of Fame, 360 North Peterboro Street, Canastota. To leave a message of condolence, please visit www.campbell-dean.com. CAMPBELL-DEAN FUNERAL HOME, INC.

Canastota