James Thomas DeCrescenzo

James DeCrescenzo passed away peacefully on October 8, 2024. He was born August 27, 1951, in New Haven, CT to parents Louis and Grace. Immediately after high school Jim began court reporting school, graduating in 1971. He quickly gained experience in courtrooms in Windsor and New Haven. The drive to grow his career led him to Philadelphia in 1973, making him the first in his close-knit family to leave the neighborhood.

In 1983 Jim began his own court reporting firm, steadily growing it, until he sold it in 2012. He worked very hard to achieve elite status in his profession, ultimately being recognized as a Fellow of the Academy of Professional Reporters and Registered Diplomate Reporter.

His skills and reputation led to him being selected to the team of court reporters for the Military Commissions Proceedings in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Being part of this team meant Jim had Top-Secret clearance from the US Government. He was proud to play an important role in the proceedings against the masterminds of 9/11, the USS Cole bombing, and other senior Al Qaeda members.

During his career Jim served as president of the Pennsylvania Court Reporters Association, the General Reporters Association of Philadelphia, was a Founder and President of the Project to Advance Stenographic Reporting and president of his children’s high school ice hockey club. A relentless achiever, Jim was also a licensed pilot, had become a certified scuba diver, certified EMT, graduated a U.S. Coast Guard sailing course, and successfully passed every court reporting certification level available to him at the time.

Jim was a lifetime volunteer, beginning as a Big Brother in the 1970s and continuing throughout his career to support the Homeless Advocacy Project and 20 years of service to the Support Center for Child Advocates, as well as many other volunteer efforts. He received more than a dozen awards for his volunteer work, capped off by a Proclamation from the Philadelphia City Council recognizing Jim’s work on behalf of the homeless.

Despite all these achievements, Jim’s greatest joy and commitment was his family. Jim’s happiest times were with family and friends at Camp Northfork in Maine, a unique sanctuary with no TV or electronic distractions.

Jim leaves behind his loving wife of 41 years, Sheila, daughter and son-in-law Gabrielle and Jason Rericha, son and daughter-in-law Jake DeCrescenzo and Maria Morales, son Peter DeCrescenzo, grandchildren, Daphne, Ana Sofia, CJ, James III, and John Michael, his brothers Frank (Katherine) of North Haven, CT, Louis (Carol) of East Haven, CT, sister-in-law of his late brother Joseph (Catherine) of Bear, DE, siblings-in-law Ginny (Joe) Sosnowsky, Mike (Diane) Foley, Margaret (Chris) Heine, and John (Kathy) Foley, and his many nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the National Ataxia Foundation, PO Box 27986, Golden Valley, MN 55427 or online at ataxia.org. Although Jim did not have Ataxia, this was a cause close to his heart. Your donations will go toward research to help find a cure for this neurodegenerative disease.

A Celebration of Jim’s life will be held at a later time.