Bernazzani, James F.

James Francis Bernazzani, Jr. (Jim, but Jimmy to his close friends and family), 68, passed away on March 24 in Biloxi, Mississippi after a prolonged illness.

Jim was the oldest of James and Geraldine Bernazzani’ s nine children and was born and raised in Canton. Jim participated in a variety of Canton youth sports and at Canton High School on the cross country, ice hockey and baseball teams. After high school, he attended Framingham State University (FSU) and played on the ice hockey team. Jim was honored as a member of the inaugural class of the FSU Athletic Hall of Fame. He was also a key teammate on the legendary Beckham Travel softball team in the Canton Men’s Softball League.

After FSU, Jim taught at Don Bosco Tech in Boston and was also the assistant hockey coach under Ed Kirrane. Jim then went abroad to teach at the American Schools in both Mexico City and London. He loved the international experience and so decided to work towards being the director of the American School programs. To that end, he pursued and received his master’s degree in education and administration from Harvard University.

Jim’s career path would take a different tack when his FSU hockey teammate and friend, Marine Corps Capt. Mike Haskell, was killed in the 1983 Marine Corps barracks bombing in Beirut. Jim then sought the guidance of Special Agent Edward N. Quinn and asked how he could get into the Federal Bureau of Investigation and help find the bad guys. Jim was a distinguished veteran of the FBI who devoted his career to fighting organized crime and protecting against international terrorist threats. He retired from the FBI in 2008 after nearly 25 years of service and received the Presidential Award for Meritorious Service in 2006.

Following the 9/11 terrorist attacks against America, he was promoted to deputy director for law enforcement at the Counterterrorism Center for the Central Intelligence Agency. In May 2003, he was again promoted to principal deputy director of the newly formed Terrorist Threat Integration Center. Jim started his career in the FBI in the New Orleans Division and served as special agent in charge of the New Orleans Division from April 2005 to May 2008 — before, during and after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. At the time of his appointment as special agent in charge of the New Orleans Division, Special Agent Bernazzani acted as deputy assistant director for international terrorism investigations and operations handled by the FBI.

After his retirement from the FBI, Jim served as president of the New Orleans Youth Rescue Initiative, a nonprofit, publicly and privately funded effort to help the city’s youth realize their potential. He also launched Idoneous Global, a security and intelligence consulting firm, and was an adjunct professor at Tulane University where he lectured on counterterrorism.

Jim is survived by his loving wife, Noelle Bernazzani, of New Orleans, as well as his two children, James III and Alexis of Austin, TX, and two stepsons, Santino and Vincenzo Impastato of New Orleans. Jim is also survived by his siblings, Edward J. of Cape Elizabeth, ME, Elaine M. of Canton, Jane F. Zoppo of Walpole, Mary L. Mullin of Braintree, Steven G. of Mansfield, Nancy J. of Denver, CO, Daniel A. of Fairfax, VA, and Lynne M. of Canton. Jim is also survived by 13 nieces and nephews.

Visiting hours will be held Friday, April 19, from 4-7 p.m. at Dockray and Thomas Funeral Home, 455 Washington Street. A funeral Mass will be held in St. Oscar Romero Parish on Saturday, April 20, at 10 a.m. Burial at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Canton. For online guestbook, see dockrayandthomasfuneralhome.com.

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Posted by Canton Citizen on Apr 18 2024. Filed under Obituaries. Both comments and pings are currently closed.