James "Jay" Rainville

James “Jay” Rainville, 71, of Fairfield passed away on August 15, 2026 after a brief illness. He was born on September 6, 1954 in New Bedford, MA to the late George and Dorothy (Huard) Rainville. He is survived by his loving and devoted wife, Nina (Kawulicz) and their daughter, Carolyn (Michael Tjader Jr.); his daughter, Jessica; his niece, Elizabeth; and his goddaughter, Bethany. Jay was predeceased by his brother, Robert, and their beloved family dog, Roman.

Jay grew up in Fairfield and attended Andrew Warde High School, where he was proud to play on the school’s baseball team. He enjoyed all types of sports and was particularly good at bowling, having achieved a few 300 games and an 800 series only after meeting Nina. He is in the Fairfield County USBC Bowling Association 2009 Hall of Fame.

Jay had a lifelong career in IT, starting at an entry level and working his way up to a programmer position and eventually becoming a systems administrator. He was employed by Grolier, PBCC, C.R. Gibson, Dictaphone, James River, and Georgia-Pacific to name a few. This love of technology and computer software lead to him developing a highly functional computer program for Leon T. Galemba & Sons Carting Company.

In addition to his love of technology, Jay was passionate about music with some of his favorite bands being Grand Funk, The Kinks, George Thorogood, and many others but he especially loved The Beatles. He and Nina saw Paul McCartney on his World Tour at Giants Stadium in the summer of 1990 shortly after they were married in April that same year. They also saw Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band in concert numerous times.

He enjoyed joking around and was a very funny guy. He had a good sense of humor and a quick wit as his many friends at Kuhn’s Corner, Nutmeg Bowl, Mickey’s, Bill’s Crossroads, and other various places will tell you. Jay was also able to tell someone how much he cared for them by giving them a tough time and telling a good joke.

Above all else, Jay loved spending time with his family. They were his world and he loved them deeply.

So please, in honor of Jay, share a good laugh and a drink in his memory. Fruit Salad!

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday August 20 at 11:00AM at Our Lady of the Assumption Church, 545 Stratfield Rd., Fairfield. Burial will follow in Lawncroft Cemetery. Friends and family may come to pay their respects on Wednesday August 19 from 4-7pm at the Spear-Miller Funeral Home, 39 South Benson Road, Fairfield CT.