James “Jim” George Cariddi

On Friday, July 15, 2016, former principal James Cariddi passed away due to complications of a stroke at St. Luke’s Hospital. His service was held at St. Mark’s Catholic Church, 3736 S. Lee’s Summit Road, Independence, MO 64055. The Rosary was prayed at 1:30 p.m. followed by the visitation from 2-8 p.m. on Thursday, July 21. The Mass of the Christian Burial was at 10 a.m. Friday, July 22, with entombment directly after located at Mount Olivet Mausoleum.

Cariddi attended Garfield Elementary and was in the Northeast High School graduating class in 1944. He served in the United States Navy as an Aviation Cadet at Cornell University, received his B.A. in Mathematics from Park College in 1949, and his Master of Education from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1951.

Cariddi was a Mathematics teacher at Northeast High School, 1951-1970, Assistant Principal at Northeast High School, 1970-1982, Principal at Northeast Junior High School 1982-84, and Assistant Principal at Van Horn High School 1984-1986. Upon retirement he served as the Alumni Director at Park University 1986-1989, and a Mathematics Professor at Longview College 1990-2010.

Cariddi was very active in the community. He participated in many organizations including: Kansas City School Administrators Association, Schoolmasters Club, Phi Kappa Theta Fraternity, UNICO, National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, American Sons of Columbus, American Legion, St. Mark’s Catholic Church and Choir, Kansas City Museum Trustee and Board of Governors, Northeast Community Center Board of Directors, Boy Scouts of America Lone Star District Chairman, National and Missouri Associations of Secondary School Principals, Northeast High School Alumni Association, University of Missouri Alumni Association, Park College Alumni Association Past-President, he was part of the Gumba’s and countless others. When he was a Boy Scout in the Tribe of Mic-O-Say, Cariddi earned 52 merit badges and 3 palms.

Cariddi loved multiple things: his family, golf, music, his girls, Sudoku, whistling calls, coupons, and the Royals. Cariddi passed away at 4:55 p.m., just in time for him and his wife Mae to catch the “Early Bird Special.” Cariddi is reunited with his loving wife Mae of 63 years; his parents; sister and brother-in-law, Anna and George Lomonte; sisters Lena and Mamie; and son-in-law Joseph H. Wickey. Cariddi has left a huge imprint on the Northeast area and his legacy will live on forever.