Of Framingham formerly of Waltham passed away Friday, July 31, 2015 at the Metro West Medical Center in Framingham after a lengthy illness. He was 85.
Born and raised in Baltimore, MD to the late Ferdinand H. and Josephine (Vinci) Sturm, Jay raised his family in Waltham, before moving to Framingham in 1988, where he has been a resident ever since.
A Korean War Veteran, he served honorably in the United States Army during the Korean War. He was stationed in Okinawa, Japan where he worked as a Morse Code Interceptor. Jay was very proud to have served the country that he loved so dearly.
While stationed at Fort Devens, in 1951, Jay met the love of his life Carmela Garlisi, who he later married in 1952. Shortly after marrying he was sent to Okinawa, when he returned they settled in Waltham where they started there family. They were married for 63 loving years
Jay retired from the United States Postal Service after nearly 30 years of being employed as an elevator inspector.
Music was very important to Jay. As a younger man he taught organ and accordion lessons. As a boy he won a Maryland State Championship in playing the accordion. He would volunteer his time putting on shows at local nursing homes playing the piano or accordion, sometimes dressed as Mozart or an American Soldier. Just recently, Jay sold his prized possession, a Hammond X66 Theater Organ, to a museum in Queens, NY where it will be put on display and played.
Besides his wife Jay is survived by his loving children Jay Sturm and his wife Maria (Roemers) of Bellingham, Elizabeth "Betty" Tiro and her husband Richard of Framingham, and David Sturm of Stow, his brothers Leo Sturm of CA, and Christopher Sturm of MD, his sister Jeanne Berger of MD, and his cherished grandchildren Jay Sturm of Medford, and Jennifer Sturm of Hopedale, Jaclyn Strum of Bellingham, Jeffrey Pettengill and his wife Caitlin of Framingham, Michael Pettengill of Natick, and Laura Pettengill of Framingham. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
Expressions of sympathy may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project by visiting www.woundedwarriorproject.org.
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