James Earl Spiro, Jr.

James Earl Spiro, Jr.

James Spiro, Jr., 58, who resided in Silver Spring, MD passed away on May 23, 2019 due to cancer, which he fought bravely and with much optimism since last fall.

                Jimmy, as he was known to Cecil County friends and family, was born on February 17, 1961 in Havre de Grace, MD to the late James Earl, Sr. and Mary Catherine (Wright) Spiro of Colora, MD.

                He spent much of his youth before high school around his father’s teams at Clay County, WV and the West Nottingham Academy (WNA), playing basketball, football and baseball. He enjoyed collecting baseball and football cards, coin collecting and attending West Nottingham’s summer camp. He loved a game of kickball, WIFFLE ball, or building a fort in the woods near his family home.

                Jimmy attended West Nottingham Academy (class of 1980) where his father was the longtime football and basketball coach, and his mother was the school librarian and coach. Jimmy played both football and basketball for WNA and was a multi-year letter earner in both sports; an All-Tri-County Football Player and All-County Basketball Player. He was a member of the National Honor Society and many school clubs.

                He studied at Washington and Lee University for two years, and was a member of the basketball team and Phi Kappa Psi fraternity. After those two years, he took a one-year break from college to be an intern / page on Capitol Hill and host at a Washington, D.C. nightclub. This is when he fell in love with the D.C. area, calling it home for the rest of his life. He finished his studies with a bachelor’s degree in Government and Politics from the University of Maryland, College Park class of 1986.

                Jim became a student manager and graduate assistant coach of the University of Maryland men's basketball team under Coach Charles "Lefty" Driesell. His love of sports, particularly Maryland basketball, Baltimore Ravens, Baltimore Orioles and most recently the Charlotte Hornets gave him much happiness, and sometimes frustration. He was well known for voicing his opinions when his beloved teams were not performing as expected or when they played against his most disliked opponents. In addition to those sports, he enjoyed all that D.C. had to offer, supported many local charities, golfed in many charity tournaments, but really loved being around his many friends.

                He had many jobs throughout his life, but his desire to help others ultimately became his profession with the start of a concierge service in 2005 - Platinum Lifestyle Management.  He had clients in both sports and business throughout the D.C. area.

                Jimmy / Jim / Spi as he was known will be missed for his smile, laugh, kindness, positive attitude and all-around nice guy persona. Countless people visited him while in the hospital and many more voiced their love of him through postings on social media.

                Those that mourn Jim's passing are numerous, but he especially will be remembered by his siblings, Leslye of Silver Spring, MD and Bill of Havre de Grace, MD, as well as his many cousins. His friends are far too vast to mention them all, but these particular friends greatly loved and will dearly miss him: Dave Dickerson, Neil Irvin, Greg Nared, Tony Massenburg, Will Riddle, Fred Whitfield, and Coach Driesell.  A special thanks goes to Kelly and Edward Woods IV for their support of Jim through much of his life, but especially in his last weeks.

                He will be buried beside his parents at Centre Presbyterian Church, 83 New Park Rd
New Park, PA 17352, on Saturday, June 15 at 10:30am with light refreshments provided after.  https://centrechurchpa.org/contact/

                A celebration of his life will be held on Sunday, June 23 at 1:30PM (chapel opens at 1pm) at the University of Maryland's Memorial Chapel, 7744 Regents Drive, College Park, MD 20742.  https://weddings.umd.edu/plan_your_event/directions_parking

                Details of these will be available on Jim's Facebook page www.facebook.com/jim.spiro where questions and messages will be accepted.

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