James "Jim" F. Urbanski
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URBANSKI, James F. (Jim), 93, of Tampa, died Friday, April 16, 2021, at home surrounded by family, after a long illness under Hospice Care. He was born in Bloomington, Il, on October 5, 1927, and during the depression he was placed in a Franciscan Orphanage in Peoria, Il. He was adopted by Vincent and Cecelia Urbanski, who predeceased him. When they were told there was a little girl who needed a home, they came to pick her up and were told she had a little brother and they took both home to be raised in a loving family in LaSalle, Il. He was also predeceased by the big sister, Norma Jean Loebach. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Ann Anderson Urbanski; daughters, Cissy Urbanski & Betsy Smith (Stephen); sons, Bill Urbanski (Elizabeth) & Mark Urbanski (Michelle); six grandchildren, Natalie Smith (Christian), Sarah Beth Kuyers (Josh), Cooper John Urbanski, Mary Kate Urbanski, Alexandra Urbanski and Brooke Urbanski; and two great grandchildren, Oliver Smith, and Annabel Kuyers. Upon graduation from High School Jim was drafted in the U.S. Army at the end of WWII, and served in MacArthur's Headquarters in Tokyo. Upon his discharge, he enrolled in the University of Illinois on the GI Bill. After graduation several jobs took him to Jackson, Ms, where he worked as an ad salesman at the Jackson Daily News. While in Jackson, he was introduced to Ann Anderson on a blind date, a senior at Millsaps College. They were married a year later in Jackson in 1954. In 1960 he was offered a position as Retail Ad Manager at the Tampa Tribune, where he was employed for 31 years, ending his stay there as President. During his life he was a faithful member of Christ the King Catholic Church where he held many volunteer offices and founded the Carnival which is now a popular local event. He was the consummate volunteer serving on the boards of many local organizations and as President of United Way, the University Club, Gulf Ridge Council, Boy Scouts of America, Florida, & Southern Newspaper Publishers Association. He enjoyed membership in the Tampa Yacht Club and many years of fun in Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla, and the Highlands Falls Country Club where he spent many summers. He was a loyal fan of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Illini Football team. His real pleasure was spending time with his family and friends in the mountains and at their Manasota Key home. Jim and his four close colleagues were responsible for landing the Super Bowl Champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers for Tampa in 1976 and he was very proud of serving on the first Super Bowl Task Force when Tampa became the smallest city to host a Super Bowl. In 1989 he was named the Tampa Civitan Citizen of the Year, which he proudly accepted. The family will receive friends on Monday, April 26,2021, from 5 to 7 at Blount & Curry Funeral Home, 605 South MacDill Ave, Tampa, and the Funeral Mass will be held at Christ the King Catholic Church at 2:00 P.M. on Tuesday, April 27, 2021, followed by a private family burial. Donations would be appreciated to Christ the King Catholic Church, 821 S. Dale Mabry, Tampa, FL 33609, Life Path Hospice, 3010 W. Azeele St., Tampa, FL 33609 or Metropolitan Ministries. www.blountcurrymacdill.com