James Arancio Of Sag Harbor Dies June 9

James Arancio of Sag Harbor died on Tuesday, June 9. He was 84

Mr. Arancio was a retired New York City firefighter, serving with Ladder 26, the “Fire Factory” in Harlem, and a retired fire safety director at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital.

His daughter, Patricia Arancio Remkus, said that he was the most amazing father, grandfather, husband, uncle and friend. “He was kind, loving, generous, caring, and, oh, so funny,” she said. He always found the humor in everything and was the funniest person she had ever known, she said. He was a father figure to her boys, her best friend, her confidante, her soul mate, her protector and he owned her heart. He was everything to his family and his family was everything to him.

He taught his kids and all of his grandkids how to fish, told each and every one of them that they were his favorite and not to tell anyone else, he loved spending time with family and instilled in them the importance of the family unit, she said. He looked forward to annual family trips to Maine, and loved having his family around him, his daughter said.

“He and Mom (Ann Mulcahy Arancio) showed us what love really was,” she said. “They were an incredible couple, married for 58 years, and Dad never got over the loss of Mom, who passed away in 2013.”

His son, James Arancio, said that his Dad lived well, laughed often and loved much, and he leaves the world a much better than he found it. “He never lacked appreciation of earth’s beauty or failed to express it. He looked for the best in others and gave the best he had,” he said.

“Dad is now with mom, the love of his life, and we know they are both elated to be together again,” he said.

He was a member of the Suffolk County Retired Fire Fighters, L.I. Retired Fire Fighters, American Legion, U.S. Power Squadron, and the Irish American Society of the Hamptons.

Besides his son and daughter, Mr. Arancio is survived by his daughter-in-law, Cindy, Alan Steel; his grandchildren Joseph and Michael Remkus, Victoria, Giovanni and Genevieve Arancio; his neice Barbara Casiere; and many friends.

Memorial donations may be made to the Sag Harbor Ambulance, St. Jude’s or the Fire Department Burn Center.