James Reding

Jim Reding was born in San Jose, California in 1927 to John Reding and Agnes Fitzgerald Reding. Jim was raised during the Great Depression, served proudly in World War II, and spent his life in service to his family and community.

In 1944, on Jim’s seventeenth birthday, he joined the US Navy and was assigned to the USS Fergus APA 82. He served aboard the Fergus in the Pacific Theater until he was discharged from active duty in the summer of 1946. He is the author of “22 Months,” a book detailing his experiences in the Pacific during World War II.

Jim earned a GED high school diploma while in the Navy and used the GI Bill to attend San Jose State and Stanford University. While in college he received a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the Air Force Reserve, served in the Marshall Islands, and earned the rank of Major.

He taught school for twenty years in the Campbell School District and spent over fifty years restoring historic buildings along the Central Coast. In 1972, Jim and his wife Barbara restored the Hihn Building in Capitola Village and earned a position on the National Registry of historic buildings and the prestigious California State Historic Landmark #860 designation.

Jim was a long time resident of Capitola and Pebble Beach. He was leader in the local community serving on numerous committees and contributed to many projects around the Monterey Bay. He was the Founding Director of the Wharf-to-Wharf Race and was a member of the Board of Directors for over thirty years before becoming Director Emeritus.

He felt fortunate to have his wife and partner, Barbara, to travel the roads, the skies, and sail the seas of life with him for over 40 years. They were avid travelers with a special love for Ireland.

Jim is the father of five children: Captain Tim Reding USAR and wife Carol of Modesto, California; Dr. Terry Reding and wife Alice of Fresno, California; Carol Sisney and husband Bret of Aptos, California; John Reding of Los Angeles, California; and Mary Reding and husband Lt. Col. John Smith of Washington, DC. He is the proud grandfather of seven grandchildren: Stephen Reding, Ryan and Morgan Pierce, Brian and Kelly Sisney, and Maggie and Katherine Smith. He is the brother of Patrick Reding and Marge Pospishek.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, 49 Stevenson Street, Suite 1200, San Francisco, California 94105.