James “Jimmy” Boutin, 98, of Liverpool died on Saturday.
According to his obituary, Boutin was a veteran of the 4th Marine Division during World War II and earned a Purple Heart in 1944 after being wounded at Saipan.
After the war, he owned his own car dealership business for over ten years and later worked as a shuttle driver at the Syracuse Sheraton Inn. While working there, he met numerous celebrities and loved to tell the stories of his encounters to his family and friends.
Boutin’s brushes with fame included working with Hall of Fame boxer Carmen Basilio during his time as a boxing judge and being a booster for the 1959 Syracuse University National Championship football team.
He loved the New York Yankees, SU football and basketball, and his Liverpool home.
But most of all, according to his obituary, he loved his wife of 73 years, Wanda, who passed away in 2018.
Calling hours are Friday, January 5th, from 9-10 a.m. at Farone & Son Inc. Funeral Home, 1500 Park Street, Syracuse.
Burial will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery with full military honors.
Share condolences at www.faroneandsoninc.com.
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