James Todd Day

James Day was a brilliant intellectual who suffered from a rare form of early-onset dementia for the last 13 years of his life. A graduate of Princeton University with a doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania, James found meaning in academia and dedicated his life to it. He spoke fluent French, which he taught at USC for 28 years, where he received awards for his teaching and additionally served a five-year national-level leadership role with Educational Testing Service (ETS), overseeing and coordinating the AP French program. A career highlight for James, a scholar of French Literature, was presenting his research on the 19th century author Stendhal at an international colloquium in England.

He met his wife, Pam at the University of Georgia where he taught French for several years before accepting a position at USC. Both French educators, James and Pam shared a passion for language and culture, which they celebrated throughout 31 years of marriage. James was a beloved father to his two children, inspiring their pursuit of knowledge and education, and imparting to them his eloquence and lifelong passion for language. A dynamic family man with a contagious sense of adventure, he coordinated numerous travel excursions both stateside and abroad for his wife and kids, including annual camping trips and, once, a spontaneous weekend getaway to Paris. These trips provided countless treasured memories and greatly enriched the lives of his family.

Lively dinner conversations over internationally inspired home-cooked meals were a staple in the Day household because of James, an avid amateur chef. He enjoyed carpentry, and his handiwork is seen throughout his home. He inspired his students and his children to think creatively, work hard, and reach for the stars. Life as he knew it was cut short by dementia (Primary Progressive Aphasia), a diagnosis received in 2011, which necessitated an early retirement and gradually robbed him of his language skills and, eventually, his memories.

He is survived by his wife, Pam; his daughter, Allison; his son, Jeremy; his brother, Roy (Debbie Lund) and nieces, Meagan and Haley Day.

A celebration of James’s life will be held in 2022. For those interested in making a donation in James’s honor, James’s favorite charities were Harvest Hope and Doctors Without Borders. His family also suggests the Alzheimer’s Association and the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration.