James Edward DePalma

RIO RICO, AZ -- James E. DePalma, 88, died Nov. 8, 2026 after a long illness. Born to Lawrence and Ethel Quimby DePalma, he grew up in New Hampshire, graduating from Spaulding High School and McIntosh College. In between accounting for International Harvester, night auditing weekends at Ramada Inn and delivering US mail, he also coached midget league football in Dover and Rochester. After moving to North Carolina, he started the first Little League baseball program in New Bern. There he began a career in the hospitality industry, working primarily as controller for Hilton and Sheraton in Concord, NH; Springfield, MA; Southbury, CT; Santa Fe, NM; Sedona, AZ; and Myrtle Beach, SC. A favorite pastime was introducing the family to new places on both sides of the pond.

He leaves his wife of 68 years, Myra Parsons DePalma; daughters Kimberly Hazeltine (Dennis), Kelly Vogt (Jeff), Karyn Vogt (Jay), all of Bow, NH; sons Gino DePalma of Stratham, NH, and Anthony DePalma (Keri) of Fairbanks, AK; grandchildren Jesse Hazeltine, Heidi Davis, Jonathan Vogt, Morgan Howard, Jordan Vogt, Alexander DePalma, David DePalma, Andrew DePalma, Taylor Vogt, Lindsey Vogt, Maggie Vogt, Giovanni DePalma and Maximo DePalma; 14 greatgrandchildren; and sister Marie Scala of Sanbornville, NH.

A memorial gathering will be held later in New Hampshire.