The Central Pennsylvania real estate world lost one of its finest this spring. In the early morning hours of May 28, Jim Spagnolo – “Spags” to just about everyone – passed away, and somehow, even now, it still doesn’t feel quite real.
For nearly a decade, Jim led the Hershey office of Berkshire Hathaway as our manager, though that title doesn’t begin to capture what he meant to those of us lucky enough to work with him. He was a mentor, a coach, a confidant and a steady, trusted friend. I remember calling him in a panic before my first listing appointment – nervous and unsure – and without missing a beat, he asked about my game plan and offered to come with me.
And he did.
What I witnessed that day left a mark. Jim met the client with sincere interest and warm curiosity. He took time to admire a massive gun collection – not because it had anything to do with the sale, but because it mattered to the client, and therefore it mattered to Jim. That interaction became a kind of guidepost for me. Real estate, he showed me, isn’t about transactions. It’s about people. It’s about listening, caring and showing up.
Jim taught real estate classes at the Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors, where I first met him, and he served on the board of Bright MLS. His voice carried weight, not just because he knew the rules, but because he lived them with integrity. Most Realtors in this region have a “Spags story.” He had a way of making you feel seen and heard, whether in a classroom or a hallway or a quiet office conversation. His big laugh could disarm even the most stressed-out agent.
When I considered investing in advanced real estate training, Jim didn’t give me a stock answer. He thought about what would serve me best. Then he offered a recommendation that changed the course of my career. A few years later, when I launched Yokl, he took the time to ride along on our very first trolley tour – smiling, asking questions and cheering us on.
Even now, I find myself looking around the parking lot for his gray Dodge Ram. When it’s not there – and I know it won’t be – it catches me again. Jim leaves behind three daughters, his mother and his beloved dog, Buddy, who I suspect is grieving in his own quiet way.
We all say we know life is short – but then someone like Jim is gone, and we remember just how true it is.
He was one of the good ones.