James J. "Jim" Cerenelli Sr.

Youngstown - James J. “Jim” Cerenelli, Sr., beloved husband, father, uncle, and lifelong public servant, entered into his Eternal Rest on May 25, 2025. He was 72.

Jim was born July 29, 1952 in Youngstown, the only son of Josephine F. and James M. Cerenelli.

Music soon became his first love, playing saxophone, drums and guitar during his youth. It bloomed into a relationship that would help define his life. 

Jim polished his musical talents while taking part in several sports at Liberty High School before graduating in 1970. He enrolled briefly at Youngstown State University, then began his extraordinary life of service and sacrifice by joining the US Marine Corps at the height of the Vietnam War.

Jim was stationed in Hawaii, at Parris Island and in Washington, DC. He called his military experience the most meaningful and consequential of his formative years.

Upon his honorable discharge, Jim moved to Columbus, where he earned a living as a musician. His love for country and community eventually led him back home to follow in his father’s indelible footsteps, and join the Liberty Township Police Department.

Jim’s tenure saw him fulfill practically every conceivable duty, from patrolman to acting chief. He led the detective bureau, completed FBI training at Quantico, Virginia, and was part of the Violent Crimes Task Force. 

He helped bring justice to countless families, imparted wisdom on a generation of officers, and kept his community a safer place, all while upholding the highest standards of ethical and professional work. 

Jim’s retirement from the police department in 2002 soon led to his next calling of service; he developed the Public Safety program at Trumbull Career and Tech Center from the ground up. 

It provided him an opportunity to mold and develop young adults into the same caliber of EMTs, firefighters and dispatchers that he embodied. 

Perhaps even more importantly, it allowed him to personally impact a host of men and women as a leader, mentor and even a father figure. Even years after his second retirement, those men and women credit him for their career paths and successes.

Away from his contributions to the military, law enforcement and education, Jim considered his family the center of his universe. He and his wife Angie enjoyed 48 years of the strongest, most enduring and complete love that two people could ever hope to share. Their bond gave them two sons, James J., Jr. and Christopher. The pride Jim had in both of them could've only been exceeded by the devotion he had to them. There was simply nothing Jim wouldn't do for his children.

Jim adored his two granddaughters Gianna and Aubrey every bit as much as his children, and their bond was as precious as it was deep.

Jim also leaves many cousins and dear friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and grandparents.

Family and friends may visit and pay tribute to Jim on Monday, June 2, 2025 from 10:30 to 11:30am at St. Rose Catholic Church, 48 Main Street Girard, OH 44420.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at the Church at 11:30am with military Honors immediately following.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to either Toys for Tots (https://secure.toysfortots.org/), Hospice of The Valley (https://secure.givebsmh.org/site/Donation) or Emmanuel Center in Girard (https://apps.hmhousing.org/donate-now).

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