James Livingston

1925 - 2012

James Prince Livingston
Resident of Walnut Creek
James Prince Livingston was born in San Francisco, December 9, 1925 to James Prince Livingston Sr. and Agnes Catherine O'Connor Livingston. After a life filled with the riches of family and friends and self-made business success he passed away on November 3, 2012 at the age of 86.
Jim, an only child who lost his father at a young age, was raised in San Francisco by his mother. He attended Lowell High School, and then Stanford University, later transferring to the University of California, Berkeley, with the US Marine Corps V-12 program. It was there in a solid geometry class that he first saw the love of his life, Marjorie Adele Andrews, and they married April 17, 1947. Jim graduated with a degree in civil engineering and went to work for the Linde Division of Union Carbide. After discovering that construction engineering was not for him, he was thrilled to become a Sales Engineer with Linde. Jim and Marj first resided in Oakland, California, later moving with their growing family to Pasadena, CA, Pittsburgh, PA and then Pelham, NY as Jim's career with Linde flourished. He became a National Sales Manager, but he yearned to own his own business.
In 1959 Jim took a leap of faith and moved his family to Modesto, California, where he became an independent distributor for Linde and established Livingston Oxygen Equipment Company, a supplier of medical and industrial gases and welding equipment. He also founded Hospital Pulmonary Services, which provided skilled respiratory therapy technicians and equipment to Central Valley hospitals.
He merged his company in 1969 with National Medical Enterprises, becoming President of their Health Products and Services Division. He went on to serve with NME as Executive Vice President and a Director for 28 years, retiring in 1997. At the time of his retirement, the company he founded with a single store and five employees in Modesto grew to 350 branches nationwide with over 8,000 employees. National Medical Enterprises (now Tenet Healthcare) grew from 4 hospitals to over 120 medical centers nationwide.
Jim and Marj built their family home in a new neighborhood known as Sherwood Forest, and bought a lot on the corner of Buckingham Court and Little John Lane to raise their 3 children.
Jim was a civic leader throughout his years in Modesto. He was instrumental in helping grow and develop Doctors Regional Medical Center, active as a Rotarian, member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 1971 President of the Modesto Chamber of Commerce, a Sylvan School Board member for 10 years, and Chairman of the County Mental Health Advisory Board.
In 1986 Jim and Marj moved to Rossmoor, in Walnut Creek. Jim believed in giving back to those whose friendship and support had helped him be so successful. He served as a board member of the University of California at San Francisco Foundation. Together with Marj, a Registered Nurse, they established the James P. and Marjorie A. Livingston Endowed Chair in Nursing at UCSF, the first ever endowed chair for a Nursing program, devoted to rural nursing care. He also established the James P. Livingston Endowed Chair in the Department of Anesthesia Perioperative Care at UCSF. He was instrumental in helping UCSF raise funds to build the Vision Research Institute. In 1989 he was awarded UCSF's most prestigious honor - the UCSF Medal. Jim served on the Diablo Valley College Foundation board and established the Livingston Family Scholarship there. He was also active in Rossmoor, serving two terms as president of then Mutual 21 and secretary of the men's golf club through three presidents.
Jim is survived by his wife of 65 years, Marj Livingston, and his 3 children, James P. Livingston III of Bellevue, WA; Janet Livingston Endsley (Mike), of Mill Creek, WA; and Martin A. Livingston (Kim), of Livermore, CA. He also survived by 5 grandchildren, James IV (Jamie), Alex, Peyton, Kelsey and Connor.
Services will be private.