James Jim S. Rillera

James S.F. Rillera, 84, of Fort Myers and formerly of Fort Lauderdale passed away Feb. 27, 2011. He is survived by Joann, his wife of 34 years. A memorial service will be held at Orange Harbor Park in Fort Myers on Sunday, March 13, 2011, 1:00 pm.

Jim is also survived by brother, Lawrence of Fort Myers; sisters, Madeline Cannon of Kona, Hawaii and Grace Stith of Philadelphia; many nieces and nephews; sons, Jerome of Cape Coral and James of Andalusia AL; stepdaughters, Mitzi Bookston of Pembroke Pines FL and Marcia Works of Hinesville GA; stepsons, Mike McDaniels of Madison IN and Mark McDaniels of Berea KY; 5 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.

A BRIEF VERSION OF THE LIFE AND TIMES OF JIM RILLERA

Born in Philadelphia PA on July 17, 1926; educated at St Bonaventure; Frenchtown School in Frenchtown NJ and graduated from Northeast High, Philadelphia; the oldest of five children.

Fought for his country during World War II with the US Army in the Philippine Islands where he earned a Bronze Star and Combat Infantry Badge; following the war's end he was assigned to a military government unit in Korea during the repatriation of the Japanese back to Japan, and was honorably discharged in 1946.

Jim attended Manhattan Technical Institute, Upper Darby PA, studying Mechanical Engineering, Strength of Materials & Machine Design and Cornell University, Ithaca, NY for Food Facilities Engineering, Preliminary Planning & Programming.

In the late 50's Jim was a Sr. Draftsman for New York Shipbuilding Corp. where he was responsible for design and coordination of galley and living spaces on various ships: USS Kitty Hawk, USS Little Rock, USS Bonefish; and was granted top secret clearance at that time.

He relocated to Florida in 1960 where he worked in Sarasota & Jacksonville as a sales and design engineer for food service equipment dealers. In '69 he became Vice-President and General Manager, Kurman Co., Orlando, FL

In 1977, he and Bruno Onori formed a partnership, Bruno/Rillera, Inc., Miami FL- an independent manufacturers' representative organization. Then in 1989 to 2011, he operated Commercial Kitchen Concepts, Inc. in Fort Lauderdale and Fort Myers FL, a consultant and designer of food service facilities.

He was a former member of Gulfstream Sailing Club in Fort Lauderdale where he cruised and raced his 35' Morgan sloop, "Free Spirit". In Fort Myers he was a Past Commodore of the Orange Harbor Boat Club.