More detail on this person: Col. James R.
Sulpizi (Ret) age 87 from New Castle passed away
peacefully on March 23, 2017 at the Brandywine
Nursing Home.
Colonel (Retired) James R. Sulpizi is known as the
"Father of Aviation" in the Delaware Army National
Guard, and was the first to be inducted into the
State Aviation Hall of Fame. A kid from New
Castle, he joined the Delaware Army National
Guard in 1950 and served in the enlisted ranks
until commissioned a second lieutenant in 1953.
Graduating from Army flight school at Fort Rucker,
Alabama in 1957, he embarked on a distinguished
career that led to his ultimate appointment as the
first State Army Aviation Officer in the Delaware
National Guard.
In 1963, Jim was appointed as the first commander
of an organization known as the Army Aviation
Support Facility, a position he held for 25 years.
His position of overseeing the entire aviation
program allowed hundreds of young officers,
warrant officers and enlisted personnel the
opportunity to become Army aviators and
crewmembers, many which served careers in the
Delaware National Guard. Jim was a highly
decorated officer but his best-remembered
achievement was his dramatic act of heroism in
1962. At high risk to his own life, the young
captain rescued seven Coast Guardsmen and three
Army Guardsmen from heavy Atlantic seas in gales
far exceeding design limits of his
single-passenger helicopter. He was awarded the
Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions.
Colonel Sulpizi retired in 1984 with more than
5,000 helicopter and fixed-wing flight hours.
Jim was a parishioner of both St. Peter's and Our
Lady of Fatima. He was proud to be A Man of
Malvern for over 35 years. Jim was also a member
of the St. Anthony Society and the St. Gabriel's
Club both of New Castle.
Son of the late Assunta and Francesco Sulpizi. Jim
was also preceded in death by his sister Mary
Finachirro and his brother Frank Sulpizi. Jim
leaves behind a host of relatives and friends.
The family would like to thank the staff of
Somerford Place, Brandywine Nursing Home and
Seasons Hospice for their dedicated care of
Jim.
Relatives and friends may visit at the
Krienen-Griffith Funeral Home, 1400 Kirkwood Hwy,
Elsmere, DE 19805 on Tuesday, March 28 from
6:00 - 8:00.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Saint
Peter the Apostle Church, 521 Harmony Street,
New Castle, DE 19720 on Wednesday, March 29 at
10:00 AM.
Interment will be in the Cathedral Cemetery, 2400
Lancaster Ave, Wilmington, DE 19805 following
mass.
In lieu of flowers please make contributions in
Jim's name to Seasons Hospice, 220 Continental
Drive Suite 407, Newark, DE 19713
Burial information: Cathedral Cemetery, Wilmington, DE
This information was last updated 04/16/2017
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Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024
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