James Darryl Olsen

James Darryl Olsen passed away peacefully at home on April 14, 2026, surrounded by his loved ones, after a hard-fought battle with cancer. He was born on January 1, 1947, in Long Beach, California, and spent the last 50 years of his life in Newport Beach.

Growing up in Lakewood and Thousand Oaks, James enjoyed playing baseball and tennis and remained a lifelong sports enthusiast, coaching many of his son’s youth teams. In later years, he discovered a passion for lawn bowling, where he built friendships and continued his love of sport.

James will be remembered for his kindness, sense of humor, and unwavering positive attitude. He loved to travel and lived his life with no regrets. His wish - “that you leave this earth with good, happy life experiences,” and "that someday my grandchildren's children or maybe my grandchildren's grandchildren will say "What is cancer? What was that like?" because we don't have cancer anymore."

He was a loyal friend, a devoted and supportive husband, an exceptional father and grandfather, a loving brother, uncle and son.

James is survived by his wife, Kay; his son, Eric; his daughter-in-law, Adriana; his three granddaughters, Siena, Ella, and Dempsey; and his extended family.

"Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened"- Dr. Seuss

Please consider making a donation in honor of Jim to Newport Harbor Lawn Bowling Club. Your support will help keep the club thriving and celebrate his legacy for years to come. Find the link below.