On Tuesday, August 20, 2024 James Warren Faggetti, known to many as Jim, passed away at the age of 77 in Colorado. Jim was suffering from Alzheimer’s type dementia and was lovingly cared for at home by his wife of 50 years before spending his final months in a skilled nursing home. He is survived by his wife Pamela, his 3 children Sarah, Marty, and Laura, his four grandchildren Leo, Noah, Gavin and Grayson, and his older brother Martin.

Jim was the second-born son of Martin Sr. and Helen Faggetti (nee Danforth). He was born and raised in Bloomington, Illinois. Jim was an outstanding athlete during his years at Bloomington High School, where he excelled at football, golf, and wrestling. He earned two varsity football letters at Bloomington High School under coach Bloice Bess. Jim also won two wrestling letters and three golf monograms. He was a member of the Illinois High School Association championship golf team in 1964 and 1965.
He attended college at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb where he played football for the NIU Huskies. He was known for his athleticism, great instinct on the field, his in-depth knowledge and understanding of the game, and most of all his ability to hit hard. Jim earned three varsity Northern Illinois letters (1966-67-68), he was named team Co-Captain (1968), voted team Defensive Most Valuable Player (1968), honored on NIU's All-Time Huskie Stadium Team (1995), and was selected on NIU's All-Century Team: Next 100 (1999). He was a Physical Education major with a minor in Driver's Education and graduated in 1968.
In 1973, while still living in DeKalb, he met fellow NIU Huskie student Pamela Tortorici. Jim and Pam wed in July of 1978 in Crystal Lake, IL. They returned to Jim’s hometown of Bloomington to start their family. Jim got started in the silk screen printing business with his childhood best friend Bill Read. He later continued the business on his own when he opened Faggetti’s Sport Print in downtown Bloomington in 1979. He later worked as a sales representative for athletic wear.

Jim continued to be active in his adult life. He played golf and racquetball, and frequently worked out at the YMCA. He enjoyed watching both college and professional football each season, and would attend NIU games when he could. He was an avid fisherman and gardener who loved growing his own vegetables. He was a lover of trees and would plant them around every house he lived in. In 2013, Jim retired from his sales position, and he and his wife Pam moved to Colorado to be close to their first grandchild.

A service for Jim will be held in Bloomington next year at a date yet to be determined. Condolences, remembrances, and correspondence can be sent to his wife Pam at pfaggetti@gmail.com