James William Cupp, age 92, died on March 18, 2023, in Sunrise Florida, not far from where he first settled in his beloved home of south Florida. Jim is preceded in death by his wife Mitzi, and survived by his four children and their families: Christina Gilbert of Palm Bay, FL, Robin Burckhardt and her husband Chuck of Honey Brook, PA, Bill Cupp and his wife Cindy of Crescent City, FL, and Trudy Gillevet and her husband Patrick of Oakton VA; and grandchildren Ed Gilbert (Agnes), James Gilbert (Michelle), Josh Burckhardt (Jennifer), Ben Burckhardt (Beth), Shandalyn Cupp, Rebecca Nagella (Adam), Rachel Cupp, Emilia Gillevet, and Adrienne Gillevet as well as numerous great-grandchildren and several great-great-grandchildren. Jim is also preceded in death by his son-in-law Bud Gilbert and grandson Thomas Burckhardt.
Jim was the first-born of five sons of Edwin and Gertrude (Schiffer) Cupp of Wheeling WV. He is survived by his brother George. He served in the United States Naval Reserve from 1947-1950 being honorably discharged. In 1950 he married his high-school sweetheart, Zita Strauss, "Mitzi." After working for the family sheet metal and roofing company, T. G. Cupp and Sons, he started his own business, Modernage Supply, Inc. in 1958. He was a licensed tradesman in the sheet metal trade in West Virginia. Jim was a founding member in 1953 of the Village of Clearview, West Virginia being a key member of the organizing committee. In 1962 he and Mitzi moved their family to Pompano Beach, FL. There he worked in the Air Conditioning industry, earning licenses up to Certified Air Conditioning Contractor in the State of Florida. In 1975 he helped found the local chapter of the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (now South Florida Air Conditioning Contractors Association).
Jim was president and owner of Jim Cupp Air Conditioning in Pompano Beach over 30 years, founding it March 19, 1968 and subsequently incorporating in 1974. He was one of the founding members of the Pompano Senior Squadron Flying Club (now Pompano Beach Flying Club) in 1970, where he pursued his dream of piloting small planes.
Always involved in his church, Jim became one the first lay persons to serve as Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion in his local parish, St Elizabeth of Hungary Catholic Church. The Catholic fraternity of the Knight of Columbus was a life-long avocation and an extended family of Jim and Mitzi. Jim joined the 4th Degree in 1958. By the early 1970s, Jim was a member of both Council 4955 & Assembly 1534.
As Council 4955 Program Director (1975-1976), he led a variety of activities that resulted in it becoming the largest council in Florida, and earning "Florida State Council of the Year." During the following year (1976-1977) as Grand Knight, Jim led programs which expanded its clubhouse to accommodate the new members and projects, and further grow membership. The Council second-fastest growing council that year in the entire Order. Next, Jim was asked to be the first-ever Florida State Council Vocations Director (1977-1979), introducing programs to promote and support those preparing for the priesthood.
He served as Florida State Deputy (1989-1991), and used his pilot's license to fly from one corner of Florida to the other. He established the first Knights of Columbus Council in the Bahamas. Immediately after (1991-1996), he became the inaugural Master of the State of Florida District. All throughout his State career and after, Jim remained active with his parish, council and assembly in various ways.
A funeral is scheduled for Monday March 27, 2023. Friends are invited to a time of visitation at Kraeer Funeral Home, 1 State Road 7 Margate, from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00, and to a Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at Our Lady Queen of Heaven Cemetery Chapel, 1500 S State Rd 7, North Lauderdale at 11:00 a.m., Fr. Martin Dunne presiding.
The family prefers donations to the Knights of Columbus or to Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in memory of Jim over flowers. Donations can be made to Knights of Columbus Council #4955 may be sent to St. Gabriel Catholic Church, 731 North Ocean Boulevard, Pompano Beach, FL 33062. Donations to Holy Redeemer can be sent to Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, 1454 SW Mapp Road, Palm City, FL 34990 or through this online link: http://www.holyredeemercc.org/online-giving.html .
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