James David Pinno, 60, of Chester, passed away unexpectedly at Yale-New Haven hospital after a valiant fight on Jan. 7, 2014. His beloved partner Karin Badger was by his side. James was born April 20, 1953 in West Chester, Pennsylvania. He was predeceased by his father, Lawrence, in 1982 and his mother, Patricia, in 2012. He also leaves his sister Deborah M. Pinno; his niece Amy Lynn Gray; and great-nephew Steven William Gray, Jr., of Wilmington Delaware; and many wonderful friends.

He attended Concord High School in Wilmington, Delaware, and was a proud graduate of Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, where he belonged to the Sigma Chi Fraternity. James was a Sailmaker, USCG Captain, and Teacher of Sailing and Navigation in Texas, New York, and Connecticut, working for Doyle-Ploch, Hild, Kappa, and Halsey-Lidgard/UK Halsey Sailmakers. He has been manager of the Ship’s Store at Brewer, Bruce and Johnson’s Marina in Branford, and a Registered Tax Return Preparer for H&R Block in Clinton, for the last several years. He was a member of the Austin, Texas Yacht Club and the American Sailing Association.

To say that James was a one-of-a-kind, unique, spirited man is an understatement; he was enthusiastic and positive in everything he did. He was dedicated and detailed, honorable, gracious, and sentimental, with a true joy for life. His love of his home, sailing, riding his bicycle, working in the yard, art, reading, our cats, debating politics, preparing gourmet dinners, and enjoying the company of cherished friends were all important to this handsome, private, independent man. He always said he “wanted to see the other side of the mountain.” James did manage to realize many of his dreams in sailing, traveling, and of owning a home. He competed in the Newport to Bermuda race, among others, and was captain of numerous yacht charters in the Caribbean. He was a popular teacher; gentle, patient, and passionate about the art of sailing. He particularly enjoyed a trip to Quebec City in 2002 and to Paris in 2003, where we had an elegant dinner in the Eiffel Tower, something he had desired to do since Junior High School! Closer to home, he loved living in Chester village, where he met Karin 12 years ago. There will never be another James Pinno, he will be so sadly missed by all who knew him; he was the love of my life, here not long enough, but never to be forgotten.

Friends and relatives are invited to a memorial service in his honor this Saturday, Jan. 25, 2014 at 11 a.m. at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 48 Middlesex Avenue, Chester.