James Joseph Guido

James (Jim) Guido was born in Cleveland, Ohio to Mary and James Guido on September 22, 1945. He attended Cathedral Latin High School and later earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Loyola University in Chicago. While attending college he met the love of his life, Mary Jane Marolda. They were married in 1968 and enjoyed nearly 55 wonderful years together.

Jim spent most of his life in the Chicagoland area, where he and Mary Jane raised their son, Stephen, in the near west suburb of LaGrange, IL. He began his career in telecommunications sales with Illinois Bell. Jim always found time to share his love of Chicago with his family through frequent trips to the city for Chicago Bulls games, Sting (soccer) games, deep dish pizzas at family favorite Pizzeria Due, visits to Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry, concerts, and long family bike rides along the shores of Lake Michigan. He was an active participant in his son's education and extracurricular activities, and was always sure to attend school sports events. Free time was spent enjoying family vacations, often with friends, to Michigan and Wisconsin, where summer beach time or winter cross-country skiing and snow sports were always on the agenda.

After briefly moving to Lafayette, CO, Jim accepted a job as Vice President with Lucent Technologies in New Jersey where he and Mary Jane fell in love with the East Coast buzz, energy, people and access to new experiences. They enjoyed dinner parties, nice restaurants and their many friends.

Jim loved the outdoors and was an avid and lifelong fly fisherman. He found much joy in selecting the perfect fly to catch (and release) freshwater trout. New Jersey streams were his favorite!

Jim was a generous man, and had a heart for charity – from serving those experiencing homelessness in Chicago at local soup kitchens, to buying Christmas gifts for the underprivileged, to his most recent work with Boulder County Cares, distributing supplies to the homeless community on cold winter nights with his son. He loved God, and was a faithful Catholic throughout his life, partnering with his wife Mary Jane to teach marriage and eucharistic preparation courses through their churches in both LaGrange and Naperville, IL.

He loved his wife Mary Jane with his entire heart, and remained focused on helping her live the life they wanted together. He held onto life with every fiber of his being, until God called him home on January 25, 2023.

He is survived by his wife Mary Jane, his son Stephen (Jessica), his beloved grandchildren - Gianna and Isabella, and his brother Mike. We will forever miss his warm smile and his love for life. He is now at peace with God, free of the burdens of his health problems in this world.

Jim's family is eternally grateful to the countless healthcare professionals who supported Jim and his family over the past couple of decades.

Jim considered himself a true Chicagoan, and he loved to enjoy a glass of good red wine. Per his request, his ashes will ultimately be commingled with his beloved wife when that time comes. He has designated a final resting place in a Chicago location with special meaning to them both. A celebration of life will be held in accordance with those wishes at that time. Until then, the family asks that everyone who knew Jim swirl, sniff and raise a glass of good red wine in honor of his life.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that you buy that good bottle of red wine to raise a toast in Jim's memory (he would truly love that) or dedicate a Catholic Mass card in his honor.