James Joseph De Maria

James Joseph DeMaria of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, died at home of cancer at age 53 on March 9, 2017. Jimmy was born in Morristown, New Jersey to the late Peter T. DeMaria, Jr. and Mary Louise DeMaria. He graduated from Madison High School in Madison, New Jersey and moved to Fort Lauderdale in 1986.

After arriving in Florida he began working in the hospitality industry while pursuing his real estate sales license. In the 1990’s he began his real estate career specializing in the sale of Florida Gold Coast properties. He was a broker at Golden Palm Realty, Inc. and Condos & Castles Real Estate Inc., both of Fort Lauderdale for most of his career. In 2011 he joined Lago Mar Realty, Inc. of Fort Lauderdale where he was employed at the time of his death. He maintained his business schedule until a week before he died and will be remembered for his enthusiastic greeting, “It’s a great day at the beach.”

His big heart, humor and joyful spirit inspired all who knew him and will be greatly missed. Jimmy was fond of his friends at the Sky Harbor East Condominium, his home since 1988. Many of his clients became endearing friends.

He was a member of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Realtors Association, the Lago Mar Club and Saint Sebastian Catholic Church.

Jimmy is survived by his brother Joseph and sister-in-law Felicia of Flanders, New Jersey and brother Peter of Austin, Texas. He is also survived by his nephew Joseph of Los Angeles, California and nephews Michelangelo, Luciano and niece Alexa of Austin, Texas.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Saint Sebastian Church, 2000 Marietta Drive, Fort Lauderdale at an as yet undetermined date. Arrangements are by the Kraeer Funeral Home, Pompano Beach, Florida.

Interment at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, East Hanover, New Jersey will be private.