In Loving Memory of James Joseph Massarotti

James Joseph Massarotti, a native of Trinidad Colorado, passed away on October 12, 2023, at
the age of 69. Jim was born on November 16, 1953, in Trinidad, CO to Florie and Marie
Massarotti.
While in junior high and high school, he worked for Southern Colorado Dairy. He played multiple
sports in high school and was a talented athlete. “Rags” was a very good running back. He
developed some of those skills from running milk routes for his grandmother at the dairy! He
played baseball for, and was the catcher for, Trinidad Catholic High School, and the American
Legion team.
In his youth, he was active in the Boy Scouts of America. One of his proudest accomplishments
was earning the Boy Scouts’ highest honor, the rank of Eagle Scout. Jim attended the Boy
Scouts National Jamboree in 1969 and the World Jamboree in 1971. He also worked at San
Isabel Scout Camp.
After graduating from Trinidad Catholic High School, Jim went on to Trinidad State Junior
College where he played baseball.
After college, he worked at the Allen Mine as a night watchman before he started his roughly
thirty-eight-year career with Burlington Northern Railroad. Over the course of his time on the
railroad he worked as a brakeman and conductor. He retired from the railroad in 2018.
Jim married Sandy Sawaya on 26 February 1983.
He married Gay Lee Lindsey on 20 January 1998.
Jim loved the outdoors. He enjoyed spending time fishing, hiking, camping, and just being in the
mountains. The survival skills he learned in the Boy Scouts stayed with him, and he was
prepared for any emergency.
Jim was preceded in death by his mother Marie Shew Massarotti, grandparents Biaggio and
Anna (Gagliardi) Massarotti, Jim and Joanna Shew, and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins,
and friends.
Jim is survived by his sons Nick, Andrew, and Clifton, his grandchildren Violet, James, and
William, his father Florie, his brother Bill, sisters Paula Etl, and Andrea Jimenez, aunts and
uncles Michael and Sharon Massarotti and Norbert and Marilyn Shew and numerous cousins.
Jim’s final message to all of us would be “Be safe out there”.
There will be a Remembrance Wake on Monday, October 23, 2023, 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm at
Sebastiani Gym.
Funeral arrangements were made under the direction of Comi Funeral Home.