James Vincent Ragano
September 25, 1940 ~ September 2, 2009
Resided in:
Arden, NC
Asheville, NC ~ Jim Vincent Ragano, 68, of Tree Top Drive in Arden, passed away on Wednesday, September 02, 2009 at the John F. Keever Hospice Solace Center in Asheville.
Jim was born September 25, 1940 in Pittsburgh, PA and was the son of the late Denny and Ada Ragano.
Although an avid sports enthusiast throughout his life…. Quite evident with his amazing passion for his Steelers and Penguins…. He was active in high school track, football and basketball; he put his academics as his highest priority. Using his scholarship for Penn State for a year he waited for his appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy. He graduated from the Naval Academy with a degree in nuclear physics in 1963. This opened the door to his career in nuclear submarines.
In 1964 he met his wife to be, Margo. They married in 1965 and their first son, James Michael was born in 1968.
Retirement from the Navy as Lt. Ragano in 1970 came easily for Jim and his family. Long tours at sea were difficult. Jim entered the computer industry in the Silicon Valley, earned his masters in business administration at Pepperdine University and their second son, Anthony Bradford appeared on the scene in 1976.
The Bay Area of San Francisco was the Ragano place of residence for over 30 years and in 1998 Jim and Margo decided to retire, Jim from Apple computers and Margo from her teaching career of 30 years.
The story is Jim went to the computer searching for a climate comparable to San Francisco and in the middle of the eastern seaboard, thus he found Asheville.
In the year 2000 Jim came out of retirement briefly to work for Advanced Bionics in Los Angeles, CA. They manufacture cochlear implants, spinal cord stimulators for pain etc. It was an enlightening and rewarding 2 ½ years.
Once back in Asheville, Jim resumed his numerous hobbies…. His workshop was always buzzing, Projects in progress, tables, shelves, clocks, cabinets. His love for blue grass was evident in his guitar and banjo.
Traveling with Margo also became a pastime… France Italy, The Danube and of course their summer hideaway in the, Thousand Islands.
Jim was a "Master" of Italian cooking; always there was a wonderful aroma emanating from their kitchen.
A recent passion was water color, and he had talent.
Finally, Jim loved politics and so enjoyed writing his column for the Asheville Citizen Times. This was always a true challenge and one he thoroughly enjoyed.
He passed away, September 2, 2009 peacefully and is survived by his loving family, Margo, his wife of 43 years, two sons, Anthony Bradford and James Michael and his wife Amie and their three children, Gabriella, Sophia, Alexandra and a brother Rocky Ragano.
Mass of Christian burial will be held 10:30 A.M. Saturday, September 5, 2009 at St. Barnabas Catholic Church with Father Adrian Porras officiating.
The family will receive friends from 7:00 – 9:00 P.M. on Friday at Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian on Long Shoals Road.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Mountain Area Hospice, John F. Keever Solace Center, PO Box 25338, Asheville, NC 28813 or to Wounded Warrior Project, 7020 AC Skinner Parkway, Suite 100, Jacksonville, Florida 32256.
Please make mention in memory of James V. Ragano and must include home address of Jim and Margo.
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MARGO,
YOU HAVE OUR DEEPEST CONDOLENCES. WE WILL FOREVER BE THANKFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO KNOW JIM AS A FREIND AND THE REWARDS HE GAVE OUR FAMILY. BOTH YOU AND JIM PROVIDED US WITH FRIENDSHIP AND HOSPITALITY AT A TIME WHEN WE SORELY NEEDED IT. THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR LIVES WITH US AND MAKING US A PART OF YOUR FAMILY.
LOVE,
KEITH & FRANCINE MCLAIN
Margo & Family,
My deepest condolences to you and your family for your loss. My prayers are with you. God Bless all of you.
Margo,
I am so sorry to hear of your loss. My sincerest condolences to you and your family.
Our deepest sympathies on your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with your family during this difficult time.
Thinking of you during this difficult time.
Dearest Friend, We have been waiting to hear news, and we are so very sorry that Jim’s passing was the news we heard. I have been praying for both of you daily and asked God to not let Jim suffer, and to give you strength and courage. Jim is now at peace but I know the road ahead looks long and lonely to you. Please know that I would be there right beside you if I could, and my heart is there trying to give you support. You have been so strong these past several months, and you will continue to do so. We are so very, very sorry for your loss. I know you will get strength from your ‘boys’ and your granddaughters. Please extend our deepest sympathy to them also. You are in my daily thoughts and prayers. With Deep Sorrow, Glenn and Sharron
Margo,
No words can express the sadness we feel for you and your family. Jim was such a great guy…so intelligent, quick witted, creative, athletic, and fun to be with. How he loved those three little grandaughters and spending time at camp on the St. Lawrence. Hold on to your wonderful memories and support from your family as you face some lonely days ahead. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Love,
Kathy and Jack
After a long period since graduation from USNA plus a few Reunions, I last saw Rags at the wonderfully victorious Navy vs. Notre Dame triple overtime victory in South Bend. It was as though I had seen him the ‘day before’. I have really enjoyed Rags’ Op-Ed columns and will miss them dearly. As a fellow Submariner – – I wish Rags ‘Fair Winds and Following Seas’ plus my Fondest Aloha. For Margo and the Boys and Grandchildren, I extend my deepest sympathy in this very difficult time for you.
Jerry Jordan
I’ve known Jim since we entered the Naval Academy together back in 1959. It was only in the last few years that our paths crossed again after graduation and we stuck up a friendship. Jim will be missed by all of us who have known him over the years. Anna’s and my sympathy goes out to Margo and family.
Dear Margo & Family
I have been privileged to known Rags since 1959 when we became companymates at USNA. Although we had not seen each other face to face since we graduated, there was an occasional phone call and the rare conversation with a classmate who had spoken to him. Recently I had the privilege of renewing our friendship over the internet. It was as if there were no years/decades of silence between us. I shall always remember his intellect, humility, humor, outgoing personality and friendship. Both Marie and I extend our most sincere and deepest sympathy at your loss.
Margo and family;
Jim and I were classmates and like brothers in the 17th Co. at USNA. I’ll always cherish the memories of our time together. Although I was a pilot and Rags a submariner, we will always be shipmates. My best to you all for the future.
Travis
Margo & Family,
My deepest condolences to you and your family. My thoughts and prayers are with you at this time.
Tony – our deepest condolences to you and your family during this very difficult time. I’m sorry I never got the opportunity to meet your dad in person but based on the numerous stories you shared over the years, he was certainly a wonderful man.
Love,
Bob & Michele Johnson
I am very sorry to hear of his passing. I stood many watches with him on USS PERMIT SSN-594. I can vividly remember that when he was A-Div officer, we were on watch together when the ULER watch reported an oily mist by the hydraulic system pumps. Rags got the EWS to relieve him so he could go check on the equipment. It turned out to be a pretty good leak and when he got back to Maneuvering, his shirt was soaked with hydraulic oil. He took his pens, memo pad, and cigarettes out of his pocket and observed, ‘you can take the SALEM out of the hydraulic oil, but you can’t take the hydraulic oil out of the SALEM’
I remember he was an avid bridge player and on duty nights, we’d generally find time to get a few rubbers in with the two duty officers and two nukes.
It was really great to see him at the first PERMIT Reunion in ’98. I think we had pretty much assembled the wardroom from onboard at that time.
Rags was an excellent leader and the A gangers loved him. He was intelligent, fair, and had a great sense of humor. He led by example.
I pray that the Lord will welcome him home and will be with his family in this time of sorrow.
God bless Rags. A good man and a good USS Permit shipmate. Bob McClain
Dear Margo,
You and I have never met, but I want to express my condolences to you over Rags death. Way back in 1959 Rags started out in the Fourteenth Company and I was in the Thirteenth living just one deck apart. Then after our second year they became the Seventeenth and we the Eighteenth in the fourth Battalion again living one deck apart.
So for four years the members of those two companies were very close to each other and almost everyone knew those in the other company. I knew Rags very well and we shared classes and cruises together. He and I both did well academically being on the Superintendent’s List and wearing academic “Stars” on our collars and lapels, an honor reserved for the top few percent.
Ours was a casual, “How ya doing?” relationship but I always admired his demeanor and character as well as his good looks. He was a prototype midshipman. I’m sorry I didn’t get to know him much better. I don’t think we ever met again after graduation but I was privileged to read several of his columns which were always well thought out and insightful.
One of my duties as Class of 1963 Webmaster is to keep track of the class roster including the record of those who have passed. Of the eight hundred and seventy-six classmates who graduated in 1963 Jim was the one hundred and thirty first of us to die. Every one is painful to me and emphasizes our own mortality.
I celebrate Rags’ life and grieve for you and your family who are left to carry on, which I know you will.
Hang tough and remember you are always part of the Class of 1963.
Steve and Yvonne Coester
USNA–63
Mr. Ragano, you were truly among the finest officers ever to serve in the United States Navy Submarine Service. I remember you as being the most capable engineer and admired person on the boat. Your family can be proud.
‘Sailor rest your Oar’
David Cole FTG2SS
Dear Margo –
One of my sad duties at the Naval Submarine League is to review the Obituaries to find if submariners have departed on eternal patrol. I was shocked to see Jim listed in this review and wanted you to know how much we have appreciated knowing both of you from our time together on PERMIT. We are coming to Ashville in November and will make every attempt to look you up and remember the fun times together. I will let the PERMIT Wardroom know. May you enjoy His richest blessings,
I just learned the sad news that Jim had passed away. Margo, James, Tony and Rocky, I am very sorry about your loss.
Although I haven’t seen Jim since 1989, I have counted him among my best friends since the early 1950’s when he moved with his family to Fordham Avenue in the Brookline section of Pittsburgh.
I strongly second all of the good things that Jim’s other friends have said about his character and personality. He will be missed.
Margo, I was looking for you and found
this obit on Jim. Would love to reconnect. I live at 40 Ridge Drive in Nee Braunfels, Tx. 830-708-0826. I am very sorry for your loss
Margo, I was looking for you and found
this obit on Jim. Would love to reconnect. I live at 40 Ridge Drive in New Braunfels, Tx. 830-708-0826. I am very sorry for your loss