James R. McNiel

1944 - 2021

October 9, 1944 - January 5, 2021 James Robertson McNiel passed away on January 5, 2021 at St. John's Hospital in Santa Monica from recently diagnosed lung cancer. He was 76. Jim was born in Los Angeles, California on October 9, 1944, the eldest son of Edwin McNiel from Kansas, a neurologist and psychiatrist, and Majorie Robertson from Canada, a teacher whom everyone called "Teach." Jim's childhood with his sister, Cathy, and brother, Bill, was filled with days at the beach, hours of sports, model trains, and carefree shenanigans-passions that expanded and lasted throughout his life. Jim attended Fairburn Elementary, El Rodeo, and Beverly Hills High School, where he played golf, football, and basketball. He earned a BA in economics from USC, was a member of the Phi Psi Fraternity, and played on the golf team. After graduating he served in the Navy, stationed in San Diego. His career in financial services included mergers and acquisitions and venture capital, and he happily concluded his professional life as Executive Vice-President and CFO at Renaissance Insurance. He was known by his colleagues for his intelligence, work ethic, and principled decision making.In 1971 he met and married Sue. Jim and Sue sailed together and loved road tripping and exploring new places. They raised two children, Lindsay and Stephen, in Pacific Palisades, where they spent free weekends doing house and gardening projects together. Jim was a super-fan at his children's sports competitions and school performances, and he did it all over again with his grandchildren-the little league stands and gymnasiums will be a bit quieter without Jim. One could not spend time with Jim without hearing stories about his family. He was a very proud husband, father, and grandfather.Jim was also an athlete, an outdoorsman, a sailor, and a gifted tinkerer and craftsman. Every evening after he returned from the office, he changed into his 'work clothes" and went to his shop with a beer, his pipe, and music. He might clean the birds from his last hunting trip, organize his fly box for the next fishing trip, polish his golf shoes, or remake the seat of the model boat because he didn't like the one that came in the kit. On the walls hung nautical flags and model planes, a shark jaw, a photo from his debut in the LA Open golf tournament, and a faded picture of him at the top of a sailboat mast. The shop was where he would blow up basketballs, repair bicycle tires, and rewind kite strings for his kids and grandkids. They would bring him endless toys to fix, stones to polish, and doll furniture to build. His shop was an active hub for projects and adventures. Jim cared deeply about people, from lifelong friends to casual acquaintances. He made his children's friends his own, invited his grandkids and their pals over to run his model trains, and loved pausing on his daily walks for conversations with neighbors of all ages. He cared about etiquette, looking someone in the eye, a prompt thank you note, and a firm handshake. He told long stories with lots of pictures; time spent with friends stayed in his heart long after the adventure was over. Chances are, if you sat next to Jim, your email address remains safely tucked in his briefcase, written in his precise, all-capped penmanship, waiting for the perfect time to swap another story or call on you for one more adventure.Jim is survived by his wife, Sue, along with his daughter, Lindsay (Rick Commons), son Stephen (Skylar), his four grandchildren: Matthew and Clara Commons and Isla and Goldie McNiel, and his sister Cathy (Gary Redman) and brother Bill (Linda Head), his sisters and brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews, and cousins. All will miss him dearly.