James Todd

Commander James Hamilton TODD, USN (Ret.) Was born October 16, 1919, and passed away Friday, September 21, 2007 after a brief illness. Jim was the son of James H. and Gwendolen Woodward Todd who raised him in Oakland and Piedmont, California. After one year at the University of California, he transferred to the University of Washington in the spring of 1939. While at the "U", he was varsity track captain in 1941, member of Big W Club and Oval Club, and a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity. Committed to his country, Jim enlisted in the Navy Flight Training Program (V-5), receiving his wings in May 1942, the same year he became seriously smitten with the love of his life and future wife, Virginia Lee, daughter of Arthur and Katherine. During World War II, he served 13 months in the Aleutian Islands before moving on to the Central Pacific and finally returning to San Diego in late 1944 finishing the war as an Instructor of Replacement Crews flying the Coronado seaplane. Jim and Virginia were married on January 20, 1945 in the garden on the campus of Scripps College, Claremont, California. After serving tours of duty from San Diego to Keflavik, Iceland, Jim was reassigned in 1957 as Commanding Officer Patrol Squadron Six, based at N.A.S. Barbers Point, Hawaii taking the squadron on a six month deployment to Iwakuni, Japan. Jim's last duty station was at the Pentagon where he was assigned to the office of the Chief of Naval Operations and assumed the position of Aeronautical Communications Officer. It was during this period that he became involved in the planning of the communications for the first manned spacecraft. He also chaired the committee whose function was to establish the policies for the use of satellite communications, an embryonic industry at the time. Representatives were selected from the Army, Navy, Air Force, FCC and what was to become the FAA, and the committee's work was submitted to the National Security Council for its approval. Jim retired from active duty on November 30, 1961. Committed to the communities in which he lived, Jim returned to Seattle in 1962, and commenced a 20 year career in property management with the Clise Agency. He was very active in community affairs such as the Forward Thrust campaign and the Clean Air Movement. He chaired the I-90 Task Force for the Seattle Chamber of Commerce for almost 10 years, and the Mayor's Waterfront Advisory Committee under two mayors. He served terms as President of the Downtown Seattle Development Association, the Seattle chapter of the Building Owner's and Manager's Association International, the Rainier Club, the Phi Delta Theta Alumni Club of Seattle and the Wing Point Golf and Country Club of Bainbridge Island. Jim was committed to his arts and was a man of amazing talents. He had a wonderful bass voice and sang in church choirs all over the country. He was a charter member of the Cascadian Choral and was active with the Bainbridge Light Opera Association, assuming the role of Captain Von Trapp in a local production of The Sound of Music. One of his favorite and most often requested songs was Sweet Little Jesus Boy, and he loved to tell the story of the darkened church and the young black man with a single candle who sang so sweetly and caused dad to fall in love with the song and commit it to memory. In retirement Jim focused his talents on watercolor painting, and his work not only adorns the homes of his children and grandchildren, but of many strangers who purchased his pieces at local art fairs. His sketch books, dated by years, are much sought after by his children and grandchildren, and the family feels especially blessed to have many new pieces created in a new style since the onset of his macular degeneration, and to have his newest work, one he called his miracle, painted despite his illness, completed just three weeks ago. Jim's kids describe their dad as their "hero." They admired his strength, courage, diligence and loving hand. Those who cared for him during his recent hospital stay frequently heard him say how fortunate he was to have "the best, most wonderful supportive family in the world". His family was the light of his life. He is survived by his loving wife Virginia "Lee", his children Robin Larson and husband Doug, Katherine "Terry" Ebbert, James H. "Jay" Todd and wife Raylene, and Jill Keane. Jim had nine grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren, and especially loved his nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his brother, Frank "Woody" Todd of Denver, Colorado. Services will be held in the Parlor at the Lillian Pratt building of Franke Tobey Jones in Tacoma, Washington on Wednesday, September 26, 2007 at 2:30 p.m. Remembrances can be made to Franciscan Hospice, 2901 Bridgeport Way West, University Place, WA 98466 or the charity of your choice.