James Ayoub Kagdis

If you ever met Jim Kagdis, you would remember him. His quick steps, his laser-like focus on you when he was talking to you, the questions he peppered at you to catch up on your life, the camera often slung over his shoulder. The way he lit up when he met his two grandchildren in the final months of his life. But that was what he was fighting for, against ridiculous odds, for two decades. He fought to see his kids graduate from high school and college, to see two married and to be at his daughter's side when she gave birth to her daughter in Denver. But that was where the battle was lost against the very rare pheochromocytoma that entered his life before his 40th birthday. James Ayoub Kagdis, married for 36 years to his college sweetheart Carol Driscoll, father of Adam, Jenna Lee Fenner and Daniel, Grandfather of James Alan Kagdis and Lillian Scarlett Fenner, lost the good fight on September 15, 2016. He was 59. Raised in Edison, New Jersey, Jim graduated from St. Pius X High School and earned his BA in history from Wagner College, where he was a member of Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity and of the football team. He earned his Master's in Communications from Fairfield University and worked for 35 years for Sikorsky, most recently as Manager, Business Development and Strategy. Among his proudest professional accomplishments was his leadership role on the X2 Technology Demonstrator program, a revolutionary design that set unofficial speed records for a helicopter. The technology, which successfully achieved first flight in 2008, received the 2010 Collier Trophy, the year's top honor in aeronautics and astronautics. He was previously involved in the Comanche program. Jim was named a Knight of the Honorable Order of St. Michael in 2014 by the Army Aviation Association of America, recognizing his "significant contributions to the promotion of Army Aviation in ways that stand out in the eyes of the recipient's seniors, subordinates, and peers." During the 10 years they lived in Severna Park, MD, Jim attended Mass each week at the Chapel of the United States Naval Academy, where he learned of the Midshipmen Sponsorship program. Before returning to live in Fairfield, Connecticut, Jim and Carol were sponsors for 12 midshipmen, providing copious amounts of food and support to these future heroes and leaders. In addition to his children Adam, Dan and Jenna, his grandchildren and his beloved wife Carol, Jim is survived by his son-in-law Jesse Fenner, his daughter-in-law Kelly, his brother David, his sisters Susan Pesaturo and Jackie Kagdis and mother-in-law Lois Driscoll. He was predeceased by his parents Lillian and George Kagdis. He is also survived by 13 nieces and nephews who could regale you with tales of Uncle Jimmy, obsessive Giants fan and collector of Hess trucks and Hallmark Christmas ornaments and unrelenting cheerleader for their hopes and dreams. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, September 24 at 11 a.m. at St. Luke Roman Catholic Church, Westport, Connecticut. A wake will be held on Friday, September 23rd at Spear-Miller Funeral Home, 39 South Benson Road, Fairfield, Connecticut from 4-7 pm. Donations in memory of James A. Kagdis may be made to St. Vincent's Hospital, Bridgeport, Connecticut. For information or to sign an online guest register please visit www.SpearMillerFuneralHome.com