Even after he retired, James G. "Jim" Speranza never really stopped fixing things -- from weed trimmers to lawn mowers to vacuum cleaners and other gadgets. Sometimes people would bring them in, sometimes he'd go out looking for devices that needed a little tinkering.

"He really enjoyed repairing things in his workshop," said his son, Jim Speranza.

Mr. Speranza, 80, died of heart failure Thursday at West Penn Hospital, Forbes Regional Campus, Monroeville, following a month in which his health had been deteriorating.

Much of his working life was spent keeping things running. The Wilmerding native graduated from Wilmerding High in the late 1940s and promptly helped start a family automotive repair business named P&J Motors in that community.

A couple of years later, he joined the Army and spent time stationed in Germany. When he left the service in 1953, he married his sweetheart, Lorraine Glunt, and went back to work in the auto repair shop. Over the years, their family grew to include five children.

By the late 1960s, Mr. Speranza had taken a second job with the U.S. Post Office. He retired in 1990 from his position there as a supervisor for vehicle maintenance, according to his son, Jim.

In the 1980s, he turned the auto repair business over to his three sons -- Jim of North Versailles and Joe and Chris, both of Irwin -- who have kept it going since. "It's been part of our lives as long as I can remember," said the younger Jim Speranza.

Meanwhile, his father kept busy in his home workshop and continued to enjoy cars. A 1955 Ford Crown Victoria was his pride and joy, his son remembered.

Mr. Speranza, who loved big family dinners and going to church with his family, didn't seem interested in straying too far from home. The son of Italian immigrants never took a trip to Italy, despite the urging of his family.

In addition to his wife and sons, Mr. Speranza is survived by a brother, Frank Speranza, of Forest Hills; two daughters, Patty McQuistian of Murrysville, and Kathy Kramer of Forest Hills; and 12 grandchildren.

A Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Saturday in Sacred Heart Church, Good Shepherd Parish, 1600 Brinton Road, Braddock Hills.

Arrangements are being handled by Alfieri Funeral Home, 201 Marguerite Ave., Wilmerding. Donations can be made to the Danielle House, 160 Riverside Drive, Binghamton, NY 13905.

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