James A. Tamborello

James Anthony “Jimmy” Tamborello, passed from this life on Monday, the 26th of May 2025, while surrounded by family at his home in Houston. He lived a full life and celebrated his 100th birthday earlier this year.

He was born in Houston on the 23rd of January 1925, to his parents Gus and Zena Tamborello. After growing up and graduating from Jeff Davis High School, Jimmy was drafted into the Army’s 41st infantry and fought in Guam and the Philippines. His unit was the first to go into Japan after the Japanese surrendered. During the war, he served as a mortarman and achieved the rank of Staff Sergeant before completing his service when the conflict ended.

Upon returning home, Jimmy worked with his parents in their local family grocery store. Soon after, Jimmy’s younger sister, Jeanette, invited her friend Pauline Ditta over to meet the family. When Jimmy saw Pauline, it was love at first sight. He often recalled the moment he met her, saying that as he walked down the stairs, he saw the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Jimmy and Pauline were married on the 9th of October 1949, and they lovingly raised four children, Virginia “Ginger” Tamborello, Mary Camarata, Judith “Judy” Orlando, and Gus Tamborello.

Both Jimmy and Pauline worked hard and lived lives of love and dedication to their family, community, and their faith. It was through these values that they raised their children and were proud to see them start successful careers and families of their own.

After many years of managing the family grocery store together, Jimmy and Pauline decided to move on to new careers. Jimmy took a job with Palais Royal in the mailroom where he quickly became a favorite among all of the employees. He was a loyal and dedicated worker, who loved his job and interacting with his co-workers. Jimmy formally retired in 2014 at the age of 89.

When Jimmy became a grandfather, he showed his grandchildren the same love and devotion that he gave his wife and children. His four grandchildren have fond memories of visiting him at the grocery store, eating Sunday suppers, playing baseball in the backyard, and the many rides to school he provided over the years.

Jimmy was also a very present and caring great-grandfather to his eleven great-grandchildren. They loved to sit and talk with him and listen to his stories about the past. He even sat for an interview to talk about his life story.

Serving others and celebrating his Italian-American culture was also very important to him. Jimmy was a dedicated member of the 20 Club and the Sacred Heart Society. For many years, you could find Jimmy at the Sacred Heart Hall on Thursday afternoons helping serve pasta dinners to the local community.

In his free time, Jimmy had a passion for baseball and his hometown Houston Astros. He rarely missed a game, either on television or in his season ticket seat. Each morning, he read the stats in the newspaper and followed every detail about the team. For many years, he made an annual pilgrimage to Spring Training in Florida. His dedication to the Astros, along with his military service, was celebrated when he was honored on the field of then Minute Maid Park during game two of the 2022 World Series.

Jimmy will be remembered for his love and devotion to his faith, family, and friends. Even after Pauline’s passing in 2024, Jimmy often talked about missing his bride and looked forward to the day they would be together again in God’s embrace.

Jimmy is survived by his daughter, Judy Orlando, son-in-law, Luke Orlando, and his son, Gus Tamborello. He is also survived by his granddaughter, Dana Pasket and her husband Joey, grandson, Matthew Orlando and his wife Cindy, granddaughter, Tiffany Calhoun and her husband Allen, and granddaughter, Laurie Herbert and her husband Justin; and his great-grandchildren, Kaylie Pasket, Kenzie Pasket, Kelsie Pasket, Andrew Orlando, Jack Orlando, Anthony Calhoun, Adriana Calhoun, Michael Calhoun, Ryleigh Herbert, Jacob Herbert, and James Herbert. He is also survived by many other family members including nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews and friends.

Jimmy is reunited in heaven with his wife of seventy four years Pauline; his beloved daughters, Ginger Tamborello, and Mary Camarata; his brother, Edward Tamborello; sister-in-law, Dorothy Tamborello; sister, Jeanette Puccio; brother-in-law, Gasper Puccio; brother-in-law, Vincent Ditta; sister-in-law, Josie Ditta; brother-in-law, Bernard Ditta; sister-in-law, Antonette Ditta; and many other family members and friends.

The family wishes to thank the amazing Xen caregivers (Guadalupe, Mirna, Mayra, Marcella, Veronica, and Alba) and Jamie from Horizon Hospice who dedicated over four years to caring for both Jimmy and Pauline. Because of their patience and care, Jimmy was able to remain comfortably in his home until his passing.

Friends are cordially invited to greet the family during a visitation from nine o'clock in the morning until ten o'clock in the morning on Friday, May 30, 2025, at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, 3600 Brinkman St. in Houston, where the Mass of Christian Burial is to immediately follow.

The Rite of Committal is to follow, via escorted cortege, at Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery in Houston.

All are then invited to greet the family during a reception to be held in the Parish Hall at St. Rose of Lima.