Jim Gregoire

Major Jim L. Gregoire, aka “Gargoyle,” United States Air Force, 66, of St. Petersburg, Florida, passed away on June 2, 2026.

Jim was born in Grand Forks, North Dakota, and spent most of his childhood in Whitefish, Montana. In his early years, Jim was an avid water- and snow-skier and a lover of music. He played keyboard in his high school band, Rosewood, and graduated from Whitefish High School in 1978.

Jim served 20 years in the military. He began in the United States Army as a Specialist 5 and was later promoted to Chief Warrant Officer 2, earning his Army Aviator Badge, Expert Qualification Badge with M-16 Rifle, Expert Grenade Badge, and OH-58 rating. After five years of service in the Army, he enlisted in the United States Air Force, where his career culminated in the rank of Major, flying F-16s. During those years, Jim proudly earned his Flight Safety Officer Badge, Meritorious Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Small Arms Expert Ribbon, multiple Commendation Medals, and Short- and Long-Term Service Ribbons. He was deployed during Desert Storm, as well as to Cairo, Egypt, and Ramstein, Germany. Later, Jim was transferred to Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, where he earned his Safety Fighter Pilot Certification for F-16s.

After retiring from the military, Jim went on to pursue a career as a commercial airline pilot. He began with Northwest Airlines in 1999 and retired from Delta Air Lines in 2025. Jim excelled in his career, but above all else, he was a devoted husband and father. He spent every minute of his free time supporting his children, whether coaching soccer teams, volunteering for the high school band, or attending every one of his son’s football games. He was a proud Gator dad who took every opportunity to wear orange and blue. Jim was a fan of noise, with a disdain for silence—he could not go five minutes without playing music. He was a jack of all trades, lovingly referred to as “Mr. Fix It,” regardless of the success of the project. Jim lived to entertain, bringing joy and laughter to every aspect of his life. Jim was an unwavering follower of God. He hated reading, but would listen to an audiobook of The Bible every day. Jim was a generous donor to the church.

After his retirement, and between naps in his recliner, Jim traveled the world as a tourist, his love of flying always in his blood. He was deeply loved by many, his energy impacted every person he met. Jim's mission in life was to put a smile on every face he saw. His light was felt in every corner of this world, and found in his forever home in St. Petersburg, FL.

Jim is survived by his wife, Bonnie; his children, Nickolas, Kara, and Anslee; his parents, Phillip and Linda; his sister, Cindy; his children by marriage, Andrea, Lisa (Andrew), and Nathan (Anastasia).

A service will be held for Jim on Saturday, June 6th from 5-7pm at Anderson McQueen - 2201 Dr MLK Jr St N, St Petersburg, FL 33704. Hawaiian shirts are warmly encouraged at the service to reflect Jim's cheerful and fun-loving personality, and his love for colorful island shirts.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Jim's name to Homes for our Troops. You can make a donation by clicking here.

May Jim’s memory always be a blessing.