Obituary for James E. Minatra

The world lost a truly good man when James E. Minatra passed away on August 6, 2020. He and his beloved wife, Terri Johnson Minatra, had marked their 26th year of living life to the fullest as "happily marrieds" on August 5.

Affectionately known as "Tree" (a nod to both the pronunciation of his last name and his impressive stature), he loved his family and friends – especially his long-time Lambeth College buddies, a good game of golf, a great steak and a hearty laugh. Though he bragged of having the legendary "Minatra sarcasm," he was a teddy bear at heart, and generous with his world-class hugs. He would be disappointed if we failed to mention that he had great hair and could tan to a deep brown in just an hour or two.

In addition to Terri, he is survived by his sister and brother-in-law, Brenda Faye Fort and Robert ("Bob") Fort; niece and husband Emily Fort and Jeff Kovatchitch; niece and husband Susan Fort and Frank Dammon, and their son Zach; in-laws Jim and Gerry Johnson; sister-in-law Cindy Johnson Naras; nephew Joseph Naras; and niece Elizabeth Naras.

He was preceded in death by his mother Margaret Glover Minatra, for whom he cared devotedly during her last years; father James Minatra; and sister Bonnie Lynn Minatra. Also gone on before him are Sax, Banjo, Mollie and Jed, with whom he is undoubtedly playing spirited rounds of fetch in the great beyond.

The family extends its thanks to his doctors and nurses at Mays Cancer Center for their dedicated treatment that allowed us more time with him than we had hoped, and whose continued determined research efforts will someday find a cure for this evil disease; and the nurses and aides from Heart to Heart Hospice (especially Valerie and Vincent) and the home health care staff of Home Instead, who did so much to help make his last days comfortable.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate contributions to any of:
Mays Cancer Center - https://makelivesbetter.uthscsa.edu/cancercenterdonate
National Brain Tumor Society - https://braintumor.org/take-action/ways-to-give/
Heart to Heart Hospice Foundation - https://www.htohhfoundation.org/donation/
Any non-profit animal rescue or shelter organization.

We would also appreciate you taking the time to share your remembrances of Tree on this website, as a virtual Celebration of Life in the current circumstances that prevent us from gathering together in person.