James Woodrow DiStefano was born in Magna, Salt Lake, Utah on 23 July 1918, exactly three years after his brother, Bill, was born. He is the third child and the third son born to Girolamo DiStefano and Katherine Jennie Luisi. James was named after his father Girolomo (James). He has 7 brothers and one sister.
Magna, Salt Lake, Utah
Magna is located at the base of the Northern Oquirrh Mountains and was originally called Pleasant Green in 1851. In the early 1900s, copper mining activity in the Oquirrhs began transforming the Pleasant Green area from an agricultural hamlet to an industrial community. The Utah Copper Company, which later became Kennecott Copper Corp., began constructing its Magna Mill in 1906. The owner named his mill “Magna” from the Latin word meaning “Great” or Superior. The town adopted the name “Magna” in 1906.
Many of the early residents were immigrants primarily from Italy, Greece, and Eastern Europe. Magna developed a reputation for embodying the American dream. Several small neighborhoods, such as Japtown, Snake Town, and Little Italy developed around the main street.
At the time, automobile commuting to work was not practical, few mining workers had cars, and crossing valley roads were in marginal condition. James’s father, Girolamo, took advantage of this condition and purchased a truck and provided workers transportation to the mill.
Birth
Childhood
Jim was raised in Hanna and Tabiona, UT. His early education was in Tabiona. However, he attended high school in Magna, UT, and lived with his Aunt Annie, his mother’s sister, until his senior year. He returned to Tabby and graduated.
Mission
James joined the Church of Jesus Christ Of Latter-day Saints in January of 1939 and was called to serve a mission in July. He was representing the Tabiona ward, which committed to supporting him on his mission. He was called to serve in the South States Mission, which included South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and Mississippi. He was the first missionary, of Italian descent, to serve a mission for the Church.
Marriage
On 17 August 1942, James married his sweetheart, Evelyn Louise Hamilton, from Savannah Georgia. He met Evelyn during his mission and afterward, he returned to Savannah to ask for her hand in marriage.
Congratulations are in order!
Military Service
Shortly after their marriage, he was inducted to serve in World War II but was rejected because of health reasons.
Higher Education
After his marriage to Evelyn, he attended Brigham Young University and graduated in 1951.
Occupation
During the depression, work was difficult to come by, but he soon found relief by joining the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps), which was established by the Roosevelt administration’s “New Deal” program. The CCC performed reforestation and conservation tasks. He joined the work camp at Moon Lake, where he helped construct the dam. It was at Moon Lake where he learned to drive “Cat”. He was paid $30.00 per month, and $25.00 a month was sent home to his mother.
After his marriage, he was rejected by the army to give service during World War II because of health problems. The army would not take anyone who had ulcers.
He stayed home and was employed by the company that was constructing Geneva Steel Plant. He drove “Cat” and made big money… two dollars per hour.
While putting himself through college and raising a family, he painted houses with his brother Bill.
After graduating from BYU, he taught History at Provo High School for a number of years. After realizing he could not support a family on school teachers’ wages, he left teaching and began a career in sales.
He sold everything from burial insurance, a little box that you could attach to a fridge that would keep the freezer from building up ice to life insurance.
In his later years, he purchased seven Taco Time franchises and established Taco Enterprises and Fast Foods. He was the CEO, financial manager, store supervisor, and office manager… he did it all. Evelyn, Sheila, and Kathy worked for him, learning the business. He remain in control of his business until 1988, when he passed away.
Children
Kathryn Louise 1943, Janis 1947, Carma Jean 1949, Sheila 1953, Gina 1955, Nicole 1962
Death
James died on Sunday, 16 March 1986 in Orem, Utah, Utah. He was 68 years old and suffered from kidney cancer.
