James V. LaGuardia

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- James (Vinny) LaGuardia was a man of deep faith, an easy-to-befriend family man who lit up the scene at gatherings and was always ready to hop aboard an amusement park ride with one of his grandchildren.

Family members recalled the 64-year-old former Staten Islander, who was slain Monday night in a shooting at a town meeting in Saylorsburg, Pa.

Born in Brooklyn, Mr. LaGuardia graduated from William E. Grady Technical High School. He served in the U.S. Air Force for a short time before being honorably discharged, and in 1972, he moved with his family to Staten Island, living in Westerleigh and later Dongan Hills.

Mr. LaGuardia relocated to Homestead, Fla., in 1987, then moved to Saylorsburg in 2001.

Throughout his life, he worked as an electronic technician, owning and operating a store called TV Radio Labs on Staten Island, then later in Florida and Pennsylvania. He'd repair televisions, microwaves, VCRs and other home electronics.

Mr. LaGuardia was a member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary, and he remained involved in the Boy Scouts all of his life, starting in his youth and continuing as a Scout Leader. He was also a licensed Ham Radio operator, loved to boat and fish, and played the drums for several local bands.

But mostly, he concentrated on his family, said his daughter, Gina LaGuardia-Schrecker.

"He was all about family. We would always have cousins' parties, and he was the life of the party," she recalled. "He made friends wherever he went, and everybody loved my dad."

Mr. LaGuardia was deeply religious, his daughter recalled. He was a member of the Church at the Gateway, Richmond Valley, while living on Staten Island, and more recently attended Benders Mennonite Church in Pen Argyl, Pa.

In addition to his daughter, Gina, surviving are his wife of 41 years, the former Frances Locastro; a son, Joseph; another daughter, Lori Bocola; a brother, Joseph; a sister, Phyllis Miccio, and seven grandchildren.

The funeral will be Tuesday from Virginia Funeral Chapel, Dongan Hills, with a mass at 10 a.m. at the Church at the Gateway, Richmond Valley. Burial will follow in Forest Green Park Cemetery, Morganville, N.J.