James L. Lindsey

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- James Lockman Lindsey, 94, of Dongan Hills, a retired import specialist who loved his family and enjoyed sharing his passion for sports with them, died Friday in Eger Health Care and Rehabilitation Center, Egbertville, where he had resided for two months.

The lifelong Staten Islander was born in Stapleton and moved to Dongan Hills with family when he was 4 years old. He lived in the community for a total of 90 years, 65 of them in the same house.

A graduate of Curtis High School, Mr. Lindsey obtained his associate's degree in accounting from Pace College, Manhattan.

He was a World War II veteran, enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1940. He served in Panama, patrolling the Panama Canal, and attained the rank of sergeant. He was honorably discharged in 1945 after losing his right hand in a service-related injury.

"He could do everything with one hand. I can't remember anything he couldn't do," said his son, James Dean Lindsey.

Mr. Lindsey had a 30-year career as an import specialist at African Metals in Manhattan. He retired in 1985.

He was a member and former commander of the Huttner-Pasqualini Post, American Legion, where he had been the oldest living member. He also was a life member of the Marine Corps League, Sunnyside.

He also was a founding member of the Staten Island Little League and a member of the Seaver Avenue Men's Club.

"I don't think you could find a person who didn't like my father. He was a gentleman," his son said.

Mr. Lindsey enjoyed playing golf and was an avid New York Giants football fan. He also loved to take his son and granddaughters to games at Yankee Stadium and other sports venues. And he especially enjoyed Sunday dinners with his family.

In his younger years, he attended New Dorp Moravian Church.

Mr. Lindsey's wife of 50 years, the former Jean P. Taylor, died in 1999.

Surviving, along with his son, James Dean, are his two granddaughters.

The funeral service will be Tuesday at 10 a.m. in the Virginia Funeral Chapel, Dongan Hills. Burial will follow in Moravian Cemetery, New Dorp.