James Anthony Lattanzio

James Anthony Lattanzio died at home on November 6, 2023.  He was born in Chicago, IL on September 18, 1942 to Carmen Joseph and Rosemary Lattanzio. 

Jim was a true Renaissance man.  He was an accomplished photographer, musician, magician, and achieved the 6th degree black belt title of Rokudan in Aikido in 2017.   He worked in sales, commercial photography, taught guitar, and eventually found his way into the commodity brokerage business in Chicago.  He had an inquisitive and brilliant mind and many of his talents and accomplishments were self-taught.  He loved to study music theory, card tricks, and languages.  Friends and family were very brave to take Jim on in Scrabble, Pictionary, Guesstures, or just about any other game.  Jim only gave up one Scrabble game to Karen in all the years they played.  Jim and his wife Karen lived one amazing year in London and loved to travel.   Hiking trips included Machu Picchu, Cinque Terre, Dolomiti, Ireland, Provence, part of the Camino de Santiago route in Portugal and Spain, and Bryce and Zion national parks.  Jim also loved to tour cities and photograph the architecture and people as well as enjoy the local cuisine and wines.  Madrid, Lisbon, Dublin, Edinburgh, Reykjavik, Buenos Aires, and Vancouver were among his favorites.  He also loved Guatemala, especially Tikal.   Jim and Karen are blessed with many wonderful friends, who remember his dry wit, warm smile, kind heart, and love of donuts.  His friendship with Larry and Ginger Carroll spanned more than five decades and was one of the greatest joys of his life.  He had a quiet strength and when he spoke (which was not often!) his words were very wise.  Jim loved his stepsons Karl, Joe, and Peter and once famously said "I inherited three great kids and did not have to do any work or spend any money." 

Jim lost his parents and two siblings many years ago, which made his sister Virginia and her family even more precious to him.  We know he was warmly welcomed on the other side but his passing has left a huge hole in many hearts. 

Jim is survived by his wife Karen, stepsons Karl, Joe, and Peter, daughters-in-law Nicole and Sandra, grandchildren Louis, Dorothy, Justo, and Terry, sister Virginia, niece Sandy and nephew Marc, sister-in-law and brother-in-law Gail and Gary (who are great travel companions and joint connoisseurs of wine), "adopted" daughters Lizzie and Sian, and many great-nieces and great-nephews.   

Winnie the Pooh once said, "How lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard."  Jim, it is so hard to say goodbye to you (for now) but those who love you are grateful for the many ways that you made our lives and the world a better place.  You left the woodpile higher than you found it. 

Please share memories of Jim and condolences with his family by signing the online guestbook below.