James Daniel Disco, 68, of Tyler, passed away on Wednesday morning, January 21, 2026, at his home. A Memorial service will be held on Tuesday morning, January 27, 2026, at Boren-Conner Funeral Home in Bullard, to begin at 10:00am. Chaplain Bryan Grant will officiate.

James Daniel Disco, fondly known as Jimmy to his family and friends, and as Coach Disco to his students, went to Eternal Rest on the morning of January 21, 2025, in Tyler, Texas.

Jimmy was an extremely handsome and an extraordinary son, brother, uncle, great uncle, and Coach who had a heart of pure gold, the most beautiful blue eyes that always twinkled, a charming and charismatic smile, a deeply kind and extremely generous personality that always thought of others first, a sweetness and a gentleness and an innocence that touched the hearts of all who knew him, a hilarious sense of humor and an incredible and contagious laugh that will be missed by all who loved him so very much.

Jimmy was a man of extraordinary character. He was a Southern gentleman, a man of true honor.

Jimmy had an innate athleticism that not only helped him to be a superb athlete and coach but also helped him to go the distance and defy all odds. Jimmy was a fighter to the very end of his days. He exemplified true grit and was an inspiration to all.

Coach Disco was beloved by his students. He gave whatever he could to them. He wanted to teach his students lessons they could use for a lifetime. He was a superb role model because he modeled goodness and excellence. Even in the late stages of his battle with a very aggressive form of cancer, Coach Disco was thinking of his students. From his hospital bed, he organized for his students to be at the 2024 Dallas Open Tennis Tournament. He made it possible for his students to be on the court at the Dallas Open for the coin toss, and he courageously showed up on the day for them.  

James was a multitalented visionary who excelled at whatever endeavor he embarked upon. He was written about, and quoted, in numerous media outlets including the BBC, NPR, and the Dallas Morning News.

James had a dogged determination that equally matched his intense passion, his creative genius, and his extremely high intellect. He was the best tennis coach around, the Tennis Program Director at George Banner Dealey Montessori School in Dallas, Texas, an author of graphic novels, a comic book creator, a human rights activist and event coordinator, a member of the Professional Tennis Registry, a member of the Dallas Tennis Association, a member of the United States Tennis Association (USTA), a member of the Texas Tennis Coaches Association.

Jimmy loved his large, close-knit, Italian- Hungarian family. He enjoyed playing croquet with his family, playing tennis, basketball, swimming, barbecuing, and watching his beloved Falcons and any John Wayne or Clint Eastwood Westerns. He dearly loved his dog Little Guy. Jimmy bravely fought, and never once complained, as he endured over a two-year arduous battle with cancer. Even while on his cancer journey, he was working on his next graphic novel to help teach kids lessons on faith, hope and grit.

For those of us who were blessed to know this extremely rare and beautiful tender soul, we will miss him and love him forever. We will gather at Jimmy’s place and will sing his praise. He was one of a kind.

James Daniel Disco is predeceased by his father, Frank Andrew Disco, his two great nephews William Roy Gaddy IV and Theodore Andrew Stevens, his dog Little Guy, and his mother Paskalena Femia Disco.

He is survived by his siblings: Mary Frances Hibbert (David Wilson Hibbert of Lilburn, GA), Elizabeth Ann Disco-Shearer (Theodore Robert Essex of Tyler, TX), Katherine Calabria Harvey (Mortimer Frank Meadors of Clayton, GA and Parker, TX), Martin Joseph Disco (London, United Kingdom), Thomas Andrew Disco (Francie Ingram Disco of  Kennesaw, Georgia), Barbara Ellen Disco Chacon (Diego Adrian Chacon of Folsom, California).

His nieces and nephews: Charles Garrison Allan (Jia Pang of Dallas, Texas), Julian Michael Calabria (Kathleen Anne Calabria of Murphy, Texas), Patrick Thomas Calabria (Amanda Kay Calabria of Paris, Texas), Melanie Diane Disco (Timothy James Stevens of Atlanta, Georgia), Katherine Disco Gaddy (William Roy Gaddy III of Kennesaw, Georgia), Emilio Marcello Disco (London, United Kingdom), Emilia Evangelista Disco (London, United Kingdom).

His great nieces and nephews: Gina Gabriella Calabria, Ava Kaitlin Calabria, Jacob William Calabria, Audrey Anne Calabria, Ryan Lee Calabria, Katie Claire Calabria, Tucker Frank Gaddy, Jana Diane Stevens, Angelina Rose Stevens, Julia Charlotte Stevens, Alese Ningqin Allan.

His aunt: Ann Femia Ziccarelli, cousins and Boris, Firefly, Izzy.

Please send floral contributions to Boren-Conner Funeral Home in Bullard.