James A. Spina

James was born in New Brunswick, NJ parented by his mother Josephine Licausi Spina and his father James Vincenzo Spina.  He spent his childhood in Irvington, NJ attended parochial school, then attended Rutgers University, followed by Palmer Chiropractic College in Davenport Iowa.    During his youth he embraced his Italian roots, traveling to Italy on several occasions with his parents. He loved playing the piano and basketball, playing for the Rutgers basketball team.  He would spend summers at the Jersey Shore at his parents 1940s version of  an Airbnb, working on the boardwalk in Seaside Heights.  While in Davenport, Iowa, he met Barbara Hunter who he married the day after graduating Chiropractic college, in 1957. 

James and Barbara moved back to NJ and eventually to Liberty, NY where they raised five children, who all reside in Sullivan and Orange Counties – Jay Spina, Mark Spina, Jeff Spina, Kim Spina and David Spina.  He has two daughter in laws, Maelien Yuen Spina and Verna Spina.  He has four grandchildren Chelsea Spina Voeks and her husband Jorma Voeks, Kendall Spina, Julian Spina and Valentino Spina.  He has two great grandchildren Cole and Theo Voeks.  Barbara and James were married for 42 years until she passed in 1999, after a long illness, in which he cared for her.  To James, nothing surpassed the enjoyment and pride that he derived from his family.  James was involved in the community, coaching his children’s St. Peters basketball team, being a member of the Knights of Columbus, and volunteering his many Cadillacs for transporting local dignitaries and posture queens during local parades.  One of his Cadillacs was orange with black and white pinstripe crushed velvet interior.  He was flamboyant and colorful in personality and style, wearing colorful silk shirts of the sixties and seventies.    He could envision something that seemed limited and unsightly and see the beauty and potential that could be created with it, as evident by the homestead that he created, where he resided for over 50 years, in Bradley, NY. 

In 2004 he married Debra Levine and they shared their life together until his passing.  His extended family includes her three children Chris Stratton, Mikel Levine and Adam Levine, his wife Tori Levine and one granddaughter Lawson. 

He loved being a chiropractor, his life’s purpose.  He had great certainty in the power of the innate intelligence that we all possess.  He experienced many miracles in his over his 60-year career as a chiropractor, having faith, confidence and belief in the power of the body.  He traveled near and far to study other alternative approaches to health, including China, Australia, and Mexico.  He had several mantras one being, “LSMFT” Loving Service my First Technique.  He had a perpetual thirst for knowledge and never stopped studying and learning.  He shared this passion and thirst with his family and friends and people were always eager to share his space and listen to him.

He was a spiritual man always searching for the basic truths of this universe.  He was involved in the Catholic church in his younger years, visited many monasteries and studied meditation, studied and practiced Scientology and always believed that what you think and say, leads to what you believe, which creates your reality.  He lived and preached that if you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say anything at all.

The day before he made his transition out of his body, it was with great joy that our family was able to celebrate his 91st birthday together reliving the highlights of his life.   He was totally aware and present and left us with fond vivid memories and the certainty that all is good. 

He will be greatly missed but the love and joy he shared and the knowingness that he is asking, “What’s next?” remains outstanding. 

Please join us for visitation on Friday, May 31, 2024 from 4-7 PM in the Harris Funeral Home, West St. at Buckley, Liberty, NY.  Funeral services will be Saturday, June 1, 2024 at 11 AM in the funeral home. 

Dignified cremation provided by Harris Crematorium, LLC. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Harris Funeral Home, West St. at Buckley, Liberty, NY 845-292-0001 or 845-439-5200 www.Harris-FH.com