James J. Testa

James J. Testa, age 84, died in the Norwood Hospital in Norwood, Massachusetts on Friday, April 17, 2015. Born in Boston on August 20, 1930, he was the son of the late Anthony & Nancy Testa. He was raised in Boston and graduated from Christopher Columbus High School with the class of 1949. After high school, Jimmy proudly served his country in the United States Navy during the Korean War. He was honorably discharged in 1955, after attaining the rank of Airman. After his return home from the Navy, he took a position as a police officer with the Boston Police Department in 1959.

On August 13, 1960, Jimmy married the love of his life, Barbara A. Ross and shortly thereafter, settled in Sharon, Massachusetts. He was a devoted member of the community in Sharon, regularly volunteering his time to coach both Youth Football and Youth Hockey, and later becoming a member of the Sharon Men's Club.

In 1962, he left the Boston Police Department to take a position with the Sharon Police Department and became a member of the Massachusetts Police Association. Jimmy spent his 23 years in the Department serving in various roles, including Firearms Instructor and Department Armorer. He retired as a detective on September 30, 1985. In addition to working as a police officer, Jimmy worked at several different companies as a carpenter and even though his strengths lied in carpentry work, he was known as a jack of all trades.

As a proud Korean War Veteran, Jimmy was a member of the American Legion Post 106 in Sharon, wearing many hats and volunteering in many official positions. In addition, as a member of the Sharon Fish and Game Club, he was an avid outdoorsman and looked forward to his annual 10 day hunting trip to Maine.

Beloved husband of the late Barbara A. (Ross) Testa
Loving father of Michelle N. Testa of Sharon and the late Anthony R. Testa.
Brother of Mary Anne Gravallese of East Boston.
Also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend Jimmy's Life Celebration on Sunday, April 26, 2015 from 3-6 PM in the James H. Delaney & Son Funeral Home, 48 Common Street, Walpole. A Funeral Home Service will be held on Monday, April 27, 2015 at 10AM. Interment will follow in Knollwood Memorial Park in Canton on. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Operation Delta Dog, P.O. Box 121, Chelmsford, MA 01824 or online at www.operationdeltadog.org which is an organization that trains service dogs for veterans with PTSD, or to the American Legion at www.legion.org