James W. Atherton

Principal Atherton, as I knew him when I was a very young boy at Marguerita Elementary. He always had a cheerful smile and would greet me as his Irish friend, though he knew I was Italian. It must have been a Catholic kinship he felt. Such a kind man, even as I sat before him in the Principal's office stone cold silent, unable to answer for why I was in trouble. He waited patiently for an answer, to the point that I would put him to sleep. Rest in peace dear fellow man. Good man, rest...

Mr. Atherton was my principal when I attended Marguerita Elementary. He awarded me with a certificate for being able to read at the age of 5. He was a great principal as I can still remember him to this day. Lovely memories.

Mr Atherton was my 8th grade school teacher at Fremont class of 1960. I loved him for all he did for me. Helping me to get on to High School. My prayers are with the family.

I have great memories of you. May you rest in peace. Grad class of 1977

My deepest condolences to his family. What a wonderful and long life this man had. He was our principal at Marguerita School in Alhambra and when we had a class reunion 35 years later we invited him and he came. After all those years and many students later we didn't expect him to remember many of us but he did a darned good job! Rest in peace Mr. A.... you certainly deserve it.

One of the best teachers I ever had. I remember his children from carnivals and programs at Fremont. Jamie, John, and Chrissie were blonds. Melanie was a redheaded toddler when I was in Jim's class. Later, Jim and I got together to discuss teaching. He was principal at Marguerita, and I was a fairly new teacher at Eagle Rock High School in Los Angeles. He was an inspiration to many. What a legacy. I have often thought of him, and I have Googled the name many times, with no satisfactory...

Mr. Atherton was my Principal at Northrup Grammar School 1968. I remember when he had the entire school go to the front and we all waved as the R.F. Kennedy motorcade drove by. When me and my buddies would hang out talking about cars he would stop by and join in the conversation talking about the car he just bought and the ones he once had. He was a real personable guy. RIP Mr. Atherton...and thank you.

Mr. Atherton was my grammar school principal at William Northrup School in Alhambra, CA. I graduated in 1966..he was a very nice person, I got to know him more than most, my parents we very involved with the PTA there. He is with the angels now. My condolences to his family for your loss.