James Ernest Maestri

MAESTRI -James Ernest Maestri departed the morning of Saturday, February 14, 2009 at 2:00 am. He is survived by his two loving daughters, Elizabeth of Madison, Wisconsin, and Melissa of Rio Rancho, and their mother, DeeAnn Mulcahy, his mother-in-law, Lucille Mulcahy, and his siblings, Barbara E. McCarthy of Berkeley, California, Peter A. Maestri of Spring Green, Wisconsin, and Michael B. Maestri, of Denver, Colorado. James ran his own knife sharpening business in Albuquerque from 1986 to 2007 when he was disabled by cancer. The cancer was particularly aggressive due to his exposure to Agent Orange when he served as a helicopter door gunner in Vietnam in 1967 to 1968. Prior to conducting his knife business, James worked in child care for emotionally disturbed youth with his former wife, DeeAnn. James' life was marked most prominently by his service in Vietnam and his recovery from that experience. He was a peaceful, unaggressive person by nature, and the close, hard-edged contact with death and killing in Vietnam took a great toll. James loved deeply and that love will be eternally returned by his children, family, and friends. The family especially thanks James' fellow veteran, Tyron Johnson, for his friendship and support during James' battle with cancer. Family requests, in lieu of flowers, Memorial contributions may be made to the Vietnam Veterans of America, P.O. Box 94447, Albuquerque, NM 87199-4447. Funeral Services are entrusted to: Alameda Mortuary 9420 4th Street NW Albuquerque, NM 87114 (505) 898-3160