James Marsden Davis Jr.

James Davis, Jr., the son of Paula Riddell Waldorf and Jim Davis, passed away at Hoag Memorial Hospital on July 14, 2021. Jim was taken to the hospital on June 29 after suffering a catastrophic stroke, from which he never recovered. He leaves behind a loving wife, a son, a brother and sister-in-law, a niece and nephew, as well as his parents. Jim was beloved for his sense of humor and his loyalty, his love of family and his ready ability to have fun. He was a Star Wars action figure enthusiast and collector, and he was always ready to lead a group to and through Disneyland. As a husband, father, brother, uncle, friend and son, Jim was admired for his genuine interest in others and his ability to make others feel comfortable. James, as he was known professionally, was a Senior Enterprise Product Owner at the Automobile Club of Southern California, having started as an adjuster in the Carson Auto Damage Assessment Center some 20 years earlier. He became the "go-to guy" for enterprise wide, multi-state IT systems.

Among his many recognitions, he was awarded the 2019 Specialty Unit Manager of the Year and the 2015 PLRB Claims Professional of the Year, and was selected to participate in the 2004 Leadership Development Program. A graduate of UC Santa Barbara, Jim thought he would be going to a "recreational college" when he first saw the beautiful campus nestled on the shores of the Pacific. Four years later, he graduated with honors and a double major in Communications and Psychology. We miss Jim well beyond what any words could express. It is staggering to lose one so young and so dear. In lieu of flowers, friends are encouraged to make donations in his name to the Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children, his favorite charity.

Published in Gilroy Dispatch · January 11, 2022