James Sargent, 53, of Brandon, Florida, passed away on August 9, 2026. He was a loving father, son, brother, grandfather, and friend, as well as a dedicated firefighter who spent his life serving and helping others. James will be honored on August 19, 2026, at Bay Life Church.
James was born on June 27, 1973, to Deborah Blauvelt and Donald Sargent in Painesville, Ohio. He graduated from high school in 1991 and went on to build a thriving business before pursuing his passion for helping others. He completed his firefighter training at the Florida State Fire College and later earned his EMT and paramedic certifications at Central Florida Community College. James dedicated 17 years to the fire service, where his commitment, courage, and passion earned him the rank of Lieutenant.
Outside of the firehouse, James could often be found on the ice playing hockey. A sport he began at a young age, hockey remained an important part of his life throughout the years. It was something he loved not only for the game itself, but for the friendships, memories, and community that came with it.
James was preceded in death by his stepfather, Richard Blauvelt.
He is survived by his three children, Nicole, Lauren, and Cam; his beloved granddaughter, Kenley; his mother Debbie; and his sister, Jacci .
He will be deeply missed by his family, friends, fellow firefighters, hockey community, and all those whose lives he touched.
In lieu of flowers, the family invites donations to be made in James’ honor to one of two organizations that were meaningful to him.
Hook-A-Hero Foundation is a nonprofit dedicated to supporting first responders, veterans, and their families through no-cost mental health resources, peer support, and healing outdoor experiences. Hook-A-Hero’s mission is to ensure that those who spend their lives serving others have somewhere to turn when they need support.
Hockey Heals 22 has a mission is to raise awareness toward the suicide epidemic currently facing our Veterans. At the time of its’ inception, there were 22 Veteran suicides on average per day and their goal is to get that number to zero. James participated in their annual 22 hour hockey game numerous times and was a strong supporter of the organization.
