Obituary of James S. Pollaro

James S. Pollaro, 81, of 2439 Elam St. Jamestown passed away at 6:48 a.m. Monday (May 24, 2010) in W.C.A. Hospital. An area resident for most of his life he was born October 21, 1928 in New York City a son of the late Bernard "Ben" and Marie Filomena Pollaro. Before his retirement in February of this year, he was employed by the Jamestown Board of Education as a bus driver for over 15 years. During his time with the school system he was the personal bus driver for the Jamestown High School Red Raider Football Team for several years and shared in the excitement of the State Championships that the team had achieved. He had previously worked for the Charles Bus Company and the Rainbow Bus Company. In earlier years he had owned and operated C.W.O. Enterprises and also the former North Main St. AMACO Service Station. He was a communicant of St. James Catholic Church and a member of the Chautauqua Lake Auto Club and the former Liberty Athletic Club. He was also an avid race car fan and loved NASCAR Racing. For over 40 years he was a race car driver, driving car # 41 at Stateline and Eriez Speedway and earlier at older tracks in Chautauqua County. His counterparts nicknamed him "Gentleman Jim" because of the way he conducted himself on and around the racetrack. He will be remembered as a loving and caring husband, father, brother and uncle who was known as a very generous and caring man. It seemed as though he was always there to help other people. He also took great pride in watching his "Langworthy" nephews play football and was their #1 supporter for many years. His family meant a great deal to him and he was known as the Patriarch of the Pollaro Family. Surviving are his wife the former Esther M. Bitely whom he married November 17, 1946, a son Bernard J. "Bernie" Pollaro, a daughter Mary L. Pollaro, his sister Josephine "Josie" (Sam) Trippi, his "adopted" daughter Sue Gabriel all of Jamestown, also survived by many nieces and nephews. He also loved and cherished his dogs, Lucky, Nipper, Jasmine, Keiker and Momo who he loved and adored. Besides his parents he was preceded in death by a brother Bernie Pollaro and a sister Lucille DeMarco. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. Thursday in St. James Catholic Church. The Rev. Darrell G. Duffy, pastor will be celebrant. Burial will be in the Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. Friends will be received from 2-4 & 7-9 p.m. Wednesday in the Lind Funeral Home where a Christian Wake Service will be led at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday. Memorials may be made to the Chautauqua County Humane Society, 2825 Strunk Rd. Jamestown, NY 14701 or to the American Cancer Society, Memorial Processing Center, 6725 Lyons St. P.O. Box 7, East Syracuse, NY 13057.