Obituary of James "Jim" Sant'Andrea

With profound sadness we announce the passing of Jim Sant’Andrea, Jr., loving husband, father, brother, inventor, and creative visionary, on January 27th, 2020 in Essex, CT. He was 88 years old. Jim was born at home on October 22, 1931 in Astoria, Queens to Italian immigrant parents: his mother was from Sicily and his father from Naples. He was the oldest of 4 boys, and demonstrated a talent for the visual arts at an early age. While growing up in Astoria, Queens, Jim attended the Art Students League and the highly selective School of Industrial Arts and graduated in 1949. While serving as Sergeant Quartermaster, Cartographer, and Rifle Marksman in the New York National Guard, his superior skills as a draftsman led to his start working as a commercial illustrator for many of the Madison Avenue advertising agencies. While visiting the 1964 World’s Fair, Jim saw the possibilities in the emerging corporate communications business arena and decided to strike out on his own. In 1965 Jim received a Patent from the US Government for his “single projector multi-screen projection technique”. Jim, a multimedia pioneer, with his patent revolutionized the corporate meetings industry and launched a whole new way of conducting business meetings worldwide. His special technique was used in all of his award-winning stage shows, setting them apart from all others in the industry, and dazzling audiences everywhere. Jim won six Grand Awards from the International Film & TV Festival of New York, more than any other person. The Grand Award is considered the “Oscar” of the live events industry. Based in NYC, over the next 40 years, Jim counted many Fortune 500 companies as his clients. Jim also headed a division of Burson-Marsteller known as Burson-Sant’Andrea where a number of groundbreaking business show productions were created. Sant’Andrea Production Design, Inc. held an exciting history until Jim’s retirement in the mid-2000s. In his spare time, Jim loved being with his family, drinking gin on the rocks while looking at the water view from his hilltop home in Essex, CT. He was always impeccably dressed, telling riveting stories about his travels and career. Jim had the most generous heart and loved entertaining friends with his wife, Helen. In his later years, he drew a series of beautifully detailed color pencil illustrations that include local scenes of Essex, one of which is on view at the Essex Corinthian Yacht Club. Mr. Sant’Andrea is survived by his wife Helen Sant’Andrea, son James Sant’Andrea III, daughter Ellis Grace Sant’Andrea, and brothers Carmine Santandrea and Joseph Santandrea, and his former wife Alice Santandrea. To share a memory of Jim or send a condolence to his family, please visit www.rwwfh.com. Arrangements by Robinson, Wright & Weymer Funeral Home in Centerbrook, CT.