James A. Quaremba

James A. Quaremba passed away peacefully on April 18, 2026, at his home in Bonita Springs, Florida with family at his side. He was born in New York City on March 19, 1938, to Mary M. and Anthony J. Quaremba. Growing up in Ridgewood, New Jersey, his family spent summers in Randolph Center, Vermont enjoying its rural character. James, having attended Saint Peter’s Prep, was a graduate of Ridgewood High School. He graduated magna cum laude from Princeton University and saw active duty in the U.S. Navy as an officer on the commissioning voyage of the USS Kitty Hawk aircraft carrier. He extended his service in the Naval Reserves and went on to attend the University of Michigan Law School, earning a LL.B in 1965. He began his legal career as an associate at the Wall Street law firm Shearman & Sterling, focusing on corporate law, before joining JCPenney as Regional General Counsel. During his early career, he developed a deep interest in local and national politics and was elected to the Village of Ridgewood Board of Commissioners at 29. He made several spirited, if quixotic, runs for Congress. Those campaigns led him to combine his passion for politics with his experience in the retail industry and public policy. He left JCPenney to become CEO of the Retail Council of New York State, where he helped transform the organization into an effective lobbying force while strengthening member services, including credit card and workers’ compensation programs. He retired from that position in 2006. Though content in his bachelorhood at 52, he met his beloved wife, Amelia P. Burns, a widow with two children. After a whirlwind and storybook courtship, they were married on September 22, 1990. He warmly embraced his enlarged family, which included a son and daughter, while continuing an important parental role in the lives of his sister’s children. The couple was blessed with thirty-five years of love, partnership, adventure, shared Italian heritage, friendships, and lively debate. He was a devoted husband, father figure, and grandfather, indeed, a family man who deeply loved his stepdaughter, Meghan C. Burns of New York; his stepson, Matthew E. Burns and daughter-in-law Marta Burns of Denver, Colorado; his niece, Mary Lee Ring of Alpine, Utah; and his nephews, James Hall of Alpine, Utah, and David Hall of New London CT. He took great delight in his grandchildren, Aemelia Burns and Nicholas Burns of Denver, Colorado. He lived an active life enjoying tennis, golf, and skiing from early adulthood, and maintained a 10,000-step regime into his final years. A devoted opera enthusiast, he attended his first staged opera at the Metropolitan Opera House at the age of 16 and enjoyed a 50+ year membership in its Club. Politics remained a passion, and he relished a spirited discussion with anyone willing to engage. He was a lifelong loyal Republican of the old school, committed to the ideals of a constitutional republic and to life, liberty, and freedom. He will be remembered for his values, generous spirit, sense of humor, kindness, wry smile and ability to make friends out of strangers. He was predeceased by his parents and his sister, Maryanne Hall. His remains will be interred at the National Cemetery in Sarasota, Florida. A Celebration of Life will be arranged at a future date. He was a fine man who will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by all who knew him. To sign his guest register or to leave online condolences please visit www.shikanyfuneralhome.com Arrangements are being handled by Shikany's Bonita Funeral Family Owned and Operated Since 1978

James A. Quaremba

March 19, 1938 - April 18, 2026