James R. Marengo 1933-2025

By Atascadero News · Fri Nov 28 2025

James Robert Marengo peacefully passed away at 91 years old on November 4, 2025.

James was born in Ojai, California, on December 21, 1933, to Mary and Joseph Marengo. He was raised in Long Beach, CA, and at 17, he enlisted in the United States Army, where he served as a Paratrooper with the 11th Airborne Division at the tail end of the Korean War. He was a proud Army Veteran. After his honorable discharge, he worked for Mobil Oil and then began a career as a firefighter with the Fullerton Fire Department. 

In 1966, James accepted a job with the Atascadero State Hospital Fire Department and moved his family to Atascadero. James moved up in the ranks and, along the way, worked for the Cal Poly Fire Department, the Atascadero Fire Department, the Camp Roberts Fire Department, and retired as Fire Chief from the Department of Corrections Women’s Prison in Tracy, CA. While working and raising a family, he attended college and obtained his bachelor’s degree in Fire Science.

James loved cooking, his career as a firefighter, woodworking, jewelry making, crafting, rock tumbling, photography, oil painting, hunting, fishing, and people; he was very social. He was a 4-H leader with the Rio Rancheros 4-H club, a youth football coach, volunteer with his daughter’s horse-riding group, the Atascadero Wranglerettes. He also owned All American Cleaning, a business that shaped our work ethic. We started working for him at a young age, going with him to his various jobs, dusting, sweeping, hauling gear, no complaining or shortcuts allowed. He worked tirelessly to provide us with everything we needed and things we didn’t even know we needed. We had a wonderful childhood.

James is survived by his daughters, Laura (Rod) Hewitt and Lisa (Michael) Nowicki. Granddaughters Melissa (Artie) Adams and Katherine Nowicki, and 3 Great Grandchildren, who he adored, Blake, Walker, and Charlee.

The family will hold a private service to honor James’ memory.