James Menotti, Sr. was never one to let the truth - or an inconvenient fact - get in the way of a good story. That talent makes writing an obituary a bit tricky, but there are some things we know for sure.

Jim was born in 1941 in Highland Park, California, the third of six children born to Alice and Peter Menotti. In 1965, he married the love of his life, Saundra. They were married for 60 years, a remarkable partnership filled with hard work, loyalty, and plenty of laughter.

Jim is survived by his wife, Saundra Menotti; his son, James Menotti Jr.; his daughter and son-in-law, Laura and Tony Renn; his granddaughter and her husband, Taylor and Aaron Shonk; his grandsons, Jacob and Connor Renn; and his sisters, Eileen Maronde and Francis Watson and her husband, Marty.

Jim grew up with very little and learned early that hard work wasn't optional—it was necessary. As a teenager, he worked as a delivery boy. That part is true. Did he deliver food to Frank Sinatra or Marilyn Monroe? Possibly. Right time, right city, and honestly, it's just a better story that way. One confirmed fact: Jay Leno once complimented Jim's mustache at a gas station. Jim considered this a life highlight.

Despite some appearances, and maybe his own words, Jim was not a pirate. He did, however, own a boat for most of his adult life and occasionally wore an eye patch for medical reasons. Draw your own conclusions.

Jim spent much of his life as a mechanic before earning his real estate license, working nights and weekends to buy his first rental property. That determination eventually brought him to Cedar City, Utah, where he continued building stability for his family, something that mattered deeply to him.

Because of his childhood, Jim cared about two things: security and making childhood fun. His children remember beach camping, fishing trips, and surprise chocolate left on the doorstep when Charlie and the Chocolate Factory aired on TV. His grandchildren, however, truly hit the jackpot—going on "explores," following treasure maps left by the Grinch, and searching for dinosaurs and Draco the Dragon.

Jim loved helping people and always seemed to be fixing something or teaching someone what he knew. Being useful, being needed, and being there for others brought him great joy.

Jim will be deeply missed, but his stories, laughter, and love live on in the family he adored and the memories he leaves behind.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, January 2, 2026, at 11:00 a.m., with a visitation prior from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., at the Fiddlers Canyon Ward Chapel, 638 East Canyon Center Drive, Cedar City, Utah. Interment will follow in the Cedar City Cemetery located at 685 North Main Street.

James Menotti Funeral Service Program