Title	Mr.
Last Name	Fossa
First Name	James
Middle Name	M.
Maiden Name
Nick Name	Jim
Place of Birth	Dexter,ME
Date of Birth	1926-07-04
Place of Death	Dexter,ME
Date of Death	1979-12-10
Publication	The Eastern Gazette 12-13-1979
Obituary	JIM FOSSA dead at 55 DEXTER - James M. Fossa, Sr., owner for over 30 years of the Main St. store which bears his name, died Dec. 10 at his Maple St. home. As much of a fixture down- town as his store, Mr. Fossa became ill in mid-November. he was hospitalized at Mid- Maine Medcal Center in Waterville until last week, when he returned, home to his family. A quiet man, described fondly by his family as "very simple - not at all flashy," he rarely, until his illness, vared his professional routine. Seven days a week, he was up at dawn to open his store. He would take a brief afternoon break, return to the until dinner, and then go back in the evening until his 11p.m. closing. Only for a couple of hours during Christmas and Easter would he close his store. Not even a devastating fire in January 1978 could close his store for long. Undismayed by the destruction of most of his business, he was open again in about six hours, and two, months later had renovated and months later had ren expanded his block. Mr. Fossa was the second generation owner of the store. His late father, Mario, an Italian immigrant, after having stores in several locations in town, constructed in 1936 a building on the lot of what was know as the Kirby Block, which also had been, destroyed by fire, Mario and his wife, Mary designed the building where they lived on the second floor. As a young man, M. Fossa clerked in his father's first store, where victrolas, radios, hand-dipped chocolates, peanut brittle and ice cream made from a family recipe were sold. He became business manager in 1950 and expanded the line considerably to include sport- ing goods, toys and groceries.  While still in high school, he enlisted in thie, U.S. Navy and served part of his three years in the Pacific. He received two Asiatic Pacific Theatre Stars. An avid hunter and fisherman, he belonged to the Dexter Fish and Game Association and , over the years, several town committies. He was also a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Amerl- can Legion Post of Dexter. He was communicant of St. Anne's Catholic Church. Mr. Fossa was born in Dexter, July 4, 1926. He is survived by hiw wife, Ernes- tine, a registered nurse; two sons, James Jr., in manage- ment at Fayscott. Inc., and Steven who is completing his final studies at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy; and one daughter, Maria, on the teach- ing staff of the New England Baptist Hospital School of Nursing. A Mass of Christian Burial was said Dec. 22 at St. Anne's Church. Interment followed in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, with arrangements by Crosby Funeral Home. Friends who wish may make memorial contributions in his memory to St. Anne's Parish Center, care of the rectory, Dexter. Administering the store until more definite plans are made by the family is son, James, Jr.