James Philip Shenfield

James Philip SHENFIELD James Philip Shenfield, age 86, beloved husband and father, died Sunday, March 13, at the Kitsap County Hospice in Bremerton, Washington. In his last days, he was surrounded by his beloved wife of 49 years, Mary, and his many children and grandchildren. His passing, after a long illness, will be deeply mourned. Jim was a World War II veteran and formerly Senior Vice President of the Campbell Soup Company. But it was his leadership roles with Puget Sound area charitable and political organizations in that led him to his most prominent work. He was a past Chairman of the Alki Foundation and past Director of the Washington Institute for Policy Studies. From 1985 to 1987 he served as Chairman of the Board of the Pacific Science Center, after having led the successful effort to bring the China Exhibit to the Center in 1983. Jim was forever fighting for fiscal accountability in government, and he lent credibility to the non-profit organizations to which he devoted much time and energy. He was a monthly columnist at the Northwest Prime Time Journal, and also served as a regular guest columnist in the National Review, the Seattle Times, the Monroe Monitor & Valley News, and the Maui Daily News. Jim was born on September 20, 1924 in Bronxville, NY. His father, Lawrence Lewis Shenfield, was an advertising executive who with his wife, Mabel Walker, raised their two sons in Westchester County. At Lawrenceville School in NJ, he played football on the varsity squad and graduated in 1942. In 1944, after a year at Princeton University, Jim was commissioned into the U.S. Navy as an Ensign. In World War II, he served in the South Pacific as an LCT Executive Officer and Lieutenant Group Commander of forces liberating Philippines. He was awarded two battle stars and the American Theatre and Asiatic-Pacific ribbons. After the War, Jim returned to Princeton, where he was an oarsman with the University's Varsity Crew, which rowed in the 1947 Lake Washington regatta.In 1950 he embarked on a twenty-five year career at the Campbell Soup Company, where he rose rapidly to become in 1965 the youngest Vice President in the company's history. In 1972, he and his family relocated from Pennsylvania to Seattle, where he joined Universal Services, Inc. as a Director. As his dark brown hair turned gray, Jim increasingly engaged in entrepreneurial activities. In 1980, he and partners Frank Orrico and Pat Morris bought the Herfy's restaurant chain, which they operated until 1985. He also founded the Management Institute of the Northwest and the Gladwyne Company. Jim, an avid lifelong golfer, lived in Broadmoor for thirty years before moving to Bainbridge Island. He was an active in the Seattle Golf Club, Seattle Tennis Club, the University Club, and the Wing Point Golf Club. By all accounts, Jim was as driven as any business executive, but his interests were wide and his friendships spanned people of all classes and backgrounds. His commitment to public service defined him as a man of unshakeable belief in the future of the Puget Sound community. Besides his dearest love, his wife Mary, Jim is survived by his sons, Christopher James Shenfield of Burlingame, CA, Brooke L. Shenfield, Dr. Leland W. Shenfield, Mike Atwood, Peter M. Atwood, and thirteen grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. He is also survived by two children of a previous marriage, Karen Sletteland Hatt and James Sletteland. His older brother, Lawrence W. Shenfield, died in 2008. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, March 26th at St. Barnabas Church, 1187 Wyatt Way NW on Bainbridge Island, followed by a reception at 2:00 p.m. at the University Club, 1004 Boren Ave. in Seattle. Remembrances may be sent to Kitsap County Hospice or Smile Train.