Obituary: James Vincent Sergi

Long-time resident and business owner in the north shore Tahoe and Truckee areas, James Vincent Sergi Jr. died peacefully in his home on July 16, 2009. Surrounded by his friends and loved ones, Jim lost his battle with cancer.

Jim was born September 20, 1949, in San Jose, Calif., and was the devoted son of Rose and James Vincent Sergi Sr.

As a toddler, the family moved to Carnelian Bay and soon opened a grocery store in town. As a youth, Jim worked in the family store and learned the skills for his life-long work of servicing and repairing commercial refrigeration.

Jim worked at many places around this area including Truckee Tahoe Lumber Yard, Tahoe City Lumber, and Spitsen Lumber to name but a few.

He had many accomplishments in his life. He attended Brigham Young University and became an electrical engineer. He practiced carpentry and eventually became a general contractor.

Always mechanically skilled, Jim's first major project was to rebuild the engine on his parent's Chris Craft boat when he was just 16 years old. He loved restoring and rebuilding engines so much that he became an expert automotive diagnostic technician. He had a mind like a "steel trap."

Jim was a hard worker who rarely took time off. As a licensed refrigeration technician, he took his home-based businesses, Sergi Commercial Refrigeration and Heat Source Mechanical from the North Shore and Truckee area to Soda Springs and Norton and all the way to June Lake.

Jim had many hobbies. He was very interested in tube radio and at one time had a ham operator's license. His passion however, was restoring and rebuilding his 1965 Corvette.

Jim was a devout Christian and regularly studied the Bible with close friends. His understanding of Christianity guided him in his everyday life. Jim had a strong love for Jesus.

He is preceded in death by his parents James and Rose Sergi and survived by his brother Ron and his loving girlfriend Katie and their beloved dog Hailey who was nearly always at his side.

A celebration of life was held on Sunday, Sept. 13, outside at Jason's Restaurant, 8338 N. Lake Blvd., in Kings Beach.