James William Zampini

Mass of Christian Burial for James William Zampini, age 85, will be 11:00 AM, Thursday, April 20th at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, 523 Plum Street, Fairport Harbor.  Family and friends may call 3:00-8:00 PM, Wednesday, April 19th at St. Anthony’s. 

Mr. Zampini was born February 28, 1932 in Painesville and passed away April 15, 2017 at his residence in Fairport.

Jim led a very full and active life.  He was a member of St. Anthony’s Church and a 1949 graduate of Harvey High School.  He was owner and partner in UpShoot LLC in Madison; former CEO of Lake County Nursery Exchange in Perry; beautification & community liaison for the Village of Fairport Harbor; former landscape consultant for the Cleveland Clinic Foundation; current member of AmericanHort;  Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association; Nursery Growers of Lake County, Ohio;  North Carolina Nursery & Landscape Association; Oregon Association of Nurseries; past member of ANLA Botanical Gardens & Arboreta Committee; Ohio Governor’s Commission of Agriculture; Ohio Nursery Stock Marketing Program;  

Jim was also involved in many numerous organizations and beautification projects throughout Lake County, including, Lake Erie College Campus, Painesville Route 2 & Richmond Street interchange, Downtown Painesville and Downtown Madison, Perry Public Schools/Few Arboretum, Lake Metroparks and numerous churches in Madison, Perry, Painesville & Fairport.

He received many honors and awards for his volunteer work and community involvement:  2004 Nursery Growers of Lake County, Ohio Honorarium; 1996 Distinguished Contribution Award from Ohio Nursery & Landscape Assoc.; 1994 Honorary Life Membership in Ohio & International Chapter of International Society of Arboriculture; 1993 Inducted Member of Harvey Alumni Graduates Assoc. of Distinguished Graduates; 1992 Outstanding Citizen Award from Painesville Chamber of Commerce; 1990 Americans of Italian Heritage “Person of the Year” Award; 1990 Service Above Self Award from the Rotary Club of Painesville; 1989 Community Service Award from Madison/Perry Chamber of Commerce. 

Jim was a volunteer, committee member, chairman and director for several organizations, including, Lake Erie College, Lake Metroparks Board of Park Commissioners, Lake County Cooperative Extension Service, Lake County Historical Society, Lake County Tourism Board, Lake County Catholic Service Bureau, Lake Area Hazardous Material Advisory Council, Lake County Grand Jury, American Heart Assoc., American Heart Assoc. Heart Walk, Boy Scouts of America Campaign, Lakeland Community College Campaign and Laketran Campaign.

Jim is survived by his wife, Margaret L. (Oresko) Zampini; daughter, Maria (Robert) Zampini Pettorini; son, Joseph (Marci) Zampini; four grandchildren, Jacob Joseph Pettorini, Robert James Pettorini, Abby Rose Zampini and Kayla Grace Zampini; sister, Patricia Zampini

He was preceded in death by parents, Felix and Mary (Sallay) Zampini; brother, Fred Zampini; and infant sisters, Carol and Rose Zampini.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Jim’s memory to St. Anthony’s Church in Fairport Harbor, the American Heart Association or the American Cancer Society.

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