James (83) was born in Chicago, Illinois and passed away in San Diego, California. His father, James George Albright and mother Mary Elizabeth (Partridge) Albright preceded him in passing in hometown Downers Grove, Illinois. He is survived by his sister, Charlotte Ann, and brother, Richard, and his three children, Laura, Matthew and James L.
Singing in St. Joseph's Choir and Downers Grove High School A Capella Choir, he loved to sing as well as play French Horn in band and orchestra. Playing the piano and organ, he also enjoyed his church activities, which became a model of ecumenism outreach to many other faiths - making lifelong friends along the way. Jim earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering at The University Of Illinois and was named one of the "Top 100 Graduates" in 1959.
After receiving his commission at Newport Rhode Island later that year, he served in engineering officer billets aboard the destroyer USS Tingey (DD-539) and the aircraft carrier USS Oriskany (CVA-34). After her 1960 WESTPAC deployment, Jim coordinated Oriskany’s overhaul (first carrier with the new Naval Tactical Data System) before she redeployed to Vietnam in 1963 (LCDR John McCain flew his A4D Skyhawk from ‘the Might O’ in 1967). She is now an artificial 'reef' wildlife habitat in Pensacola Bay, Florida. Upon his RAD (Release From Active Duty) Jim continued in the Naval Reserve, earning his 20-year retirement while engaging his profession in Naval shore-based facilities (and education) as well as municipal and civilian industry. His varied and productive engineering career included design, development, engineering and inventions with Eastman Kodak in Rochester New York. In San Diego, he pursued a number of local initiatives involving the improvement of the Los Colinos detention facility with the San Diego County Sheriff while studying physics and Fortran towards his MA at Grossmont College, El Cajon.
Jim became involved in many volunteer activities, including mental health and veteran's programs. As a strong advocate for the mentally ill in San Diego County, he worked closely with NAMI San Diego as a Co-Founder of the Albright Information and Referral Center that celebrated its fifteenth birthday in 2000. A couple of favorite films were "A Beautiful Mind" (Russell Crowe), and "One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest" (Jack Nicholson) as mindful of the difficulties encountered by the many victims of, and advocates for, mental illness. This was part and parcel of his motivation to support NAMI and other civilian and veterans' PTSD programs.
Viewing is Thursday night 23 August at Paris Frederick Mortuary in El Cajon. The next day’s services are at Mission San Luis Rey, Oceanside, California in Our Lady of the Angels Chapel with graveside memorial to follow.
Jim will always be remembered by his kith and kin, shipmates and co-workers for his intelligence, willing spirit, wit and resourcefulness in all of his varied lives--family, faith, service, social and professional. As quoted in NAMI's 2000 Alliance Advocate, Jim was " . . . consumer activist par excellence" in initiating and co-founding the Albright Information and Referral Center.
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