Clarence James Love

James (Jim) Love of Saint Cloud, Florida passed away on Sunday, February 16, 2025, at the age of 76, following a recent illness. One of two children, he was born on April 12, 1948 in Copiague, New York to the late Clarence William Love and Mary Grimaldi Love.

Jim and his sister, Nancy Love-Martin, had an unconventional and challenging start in life, growing up without parents. Partly because of this, family was the most important thing to him. He met the love of his life, Jean, when he moved to Franklin County VA as a teenager. Jim was 15, Jean was 12. They married in 1967 and quickly started a family. He was so very proud of his family. They were the steel that built his foundation of unwavering faith and purpose; they meant the world to him. Jim & Jean’s strong, extraordinary and enduring love of almost 58 years was an inspiration not only to their family but to anyone who met them.

In the early 80s, Jim moved his family to Connecticut where he and Jean watched their two daughters and seven grandchildren grow up. They recently welcomed their first great-granddaughter. Jim loved to travel. With his wife, Jim made yearly trips to Disney World with their two young daughters. There were many family trips to Busch Gardens Williamsburg. He also took his family along on many business trips to the Caribbean. Jim and Jean traveled to Europe and Central America and even completed their goal of visiting all 50 states in the U.S. He completed that bucket list with a cruise to Hawaii with his sister, brother-in-law and niece. In 2019 there was a family trip to the Grand Canyon with his daughters, sons-in-law, and several grandchildren.

Jim worked very hard to provide for his wife and two daughters and give them a secure and loving start in life. He worked as an executive in the restaurant industry for most of his professional career, for Marriott Corporation and Eastern Hospitality Inc., including Roy Rogers, TJ Cinnamons, Coldstone Creamery and Starbucks. He also worked as Chief Operating Officer for Interpreters and Translators for several years before he retired to Florida in 2015, then continued with them as a consultant until the present. He was admired and respected by anyone who ever had the pleasure of working with him or for him. He lead many businesses to success, improved every company he ever worked for, and had a positive impact on hundreds of people over the course of his professional career. He had exceptional leadership skills, wisdom, people skills and common sense.

Strengthened by his ability to successfully navigate his challenges including multiple victories against cancer, he had the life experiences and generous heart to lend support to anyone who needed it. He acted as their lighthouse, keeping others off the rocks, guiding them through troubled waters and providing hope. For almost 15 years he was a mentor to Dustin Smith in the Nutmeg Big Brothers Big Sisters program, it was the longest match with a single child in the program’s Connecticut chapter history. He was also actively involved in his church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, since 1985. He was drawn to this church because he believed that high moral standards and a family-oriented life are good guides on the path to success. He felt that his church helped him to be a better man. Jim lived a full life and made a profound and lasting positive impact on the lives of many. He will be greatly missed by every life he touched.

Preceding Jim in death was his sister-in-law, Magdalene Hodges; brothers-in-law Raymond Wright, Carl Wright, Bill Young and Roger Creasy; and beloved nephew, Jason Mullins.

Those left to cherish his memory are his loving and devoted wife of almost 58 years, Jean Wright Love; daughters and sons-in-law, Gina Love and Rick Levesque of Southington CT and Stacey Love and Tony Sidera of Simsbury CT; grandsons Josh Levesque, Nick Stelzer, James Love, and Elijah Love; granddaughters, Deanna Stelzer, Katelyn Anderson (Jay), and Danielle Stelzer; great-grandchildren, Jase Anderson and Madyson Anderson; sister and brother-in-law, Nancy Love-Martin and Al Martin; niece, Joleigh Medley; grand-nieces, Madeleine Mullins and Maigan Aldridge; grand-nephews, Eric Aldridge and Jason Mullins Jr.; sisters-in-law, Sylvia Young, Judy Creasy, Ruby Harris (Tim), Betty Ayers (Samuel) and Darlene Blankenship (Harry); brothers-in-law, Tommy Wright (Thelma) and David Wright (Brenda), and many other nieces, nephews, extended family, and close friends.

According to Jim’s wishes, he will be cremated. In Florida, a memorial service will be held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 2821 Old Canoe Creek Road, St. Cloud, FL on Saturday, February 22, 2025 at 1pm.

In Virginia, there will also be a memorial service at Conner-Bowman Funeral Home, 62 VA Market Place Drive, Rocky Mount, VA, on Friday, March 7, 2025. Family will receive friends at 11am and the memorial service will begin at 12pm.

Family and friends are invited to attend either service. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider making a donation to your church or favorite charity in Jim’s name.

Arrangements by Conner-Bowman Funeral Home & Crematory, 62 VA Market Place Drive, Rocky Mount, VA 24151.