James William de Lorimier

Jim de Lorimier passed away Thursday, August 17, 2023 at Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula after a brief illness. He was 94 years old. Jim was a lifelong resident of the Monterey Peninsula. He was born October 22, 1928 in Carmel and grew up in Pacific Grove in a large family as number seven of nine children born to parents George Stephen de Lorimier and Virginia Louise (Moore) de Lorimier. The family home was located at 981 Lighthouse Ave. and was the setting for many gatherings and colorful stories. He graduated from Pacific Grove High School in 1946 where sports played a key role in his young life and where he formed many lasting friendships. He met Rita Hazeltine, his future wife, in Latin class and along the way managed to convince her to take over his job as Student Body Treasurer. It did not take much persuasion but probably more meetings than were actually necessary.

Jim went on to Santa Clara University graduating in 1951. He was very fond of his college years and was always quick to remind everyone of the value of a quality Jesuit education. After Santa Clara, he joined the United States Navy and enrolled in Officer Candidate School eventually serving as a communications officer aboard the USS Manchester during the Korean War. He was intensely patriotic and proud not only of his military service but also the service given by friends and family members. Like many from his generation, the Korean conflict and the events of the Second World War played a significant part in shaping his personal values and his perspective of the U.S. role in global leadership. Following the Navy, Jim entered a career in the produce business as operations manager and partner at Monterey Bay Packing Co. in Castroville until his retirement in 1997.

He was dedicated and thorough at any task and fastidious about doing things the right way. Home projects were well thought out and generally over engineered. He was pathologically punctual. Spare time was infrequent but Sundays would find him pursuing one of his greatest passions at the Pacific Grove Municipal Golf Links. Jim enjoyed his rounds of golf with the course regulars as well as meeting new acquaintances. He was a devoted Catholic and a lifetime parishioner at St. Angela Merici in Pacific Grove.

In his later years, summer vacations to Black Butte Ranch in Oregon were the highlight of the year for him and Rita. Days were filled with golf, good food, time with grandkids, and quiet observations of nature. Evenings ushered in a litany of storytelling and reminiscences, most of which we were all very familiar with but inevitably prompted by his famous, "I've probably told you this story a hundred times before, but..." Yup, you sure have, Dad but we'll hear it one more time.

Jim was predeceased by his wife of 67 years, Rita and seven of his siblings, George, Virginia (Sister George, OP), Elizabeth Gage, John, Patricia Pennington, Jacqueline Pickett and Tom. He is survived by his younger brother, Dick de Lorimier of Monterey, children Ginger (Rick) Howard of Lafayette, Anne (Harry) Eggleton of Cambria, and James (Colleen) de Lorimier of Salinas as well as grandchildren Ellie and Will Howard, Christian (Andrea) and Micah (Julie) Eggleton, James (Abigail), Phillip and Kelly de Lorimier, and great-grandsons Silas and Zion Eggleton.

A memorial mass will be announced at a later date.