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Jim Arbuckle Obituary

Historian and avid cyclist Jim Arbuckle, son of legendary San Jose historian Clyde Arbuckle, died Saturday in a biking accident in the Willow Glen neighborhood. Friends and a family member say Arbuckle flew over his bicycle's handlebars after his tire punctured about 11:40 a.m. at the corner of Foxworthy and Meridian avenues. Arbuckle, 72, lived in the home his father built in the southern area of Willow Glen on Franquette Avenue. A San Jose native, Arbuckle inherited his love of cycling from his father, a championship bicycle racer who participated in the 1924 Olympic trials. The younger Arbuckle cycled competitively in his early years, and often won the Northern California District Championship. Arbuckle also shared his father's passion for the preservation of San Jose history. Arbuckle was heavily involved in the organization his father founded, History of San Jose, as well as Preservation Action Council of San Jose, and was the former president of the California Pioneers of Santa Clara County. He also completed his late mother's work on the history of women in San Jose, publishing the finished book in 2003. Arbuckle is survived by his sister, Susan, of Toronto, Canada. Funeral plans are still pending.

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Published by Mercury News on Jul. 12, 2007.

Memories and Condolences
for Jim Arbuckle

27 Entries

Bob Emerson

March 20, 2017

I too, was one of Jim's Poor Blind Candidates for the Clampers, before we had a San Jose Chapter. He was a true inspiration in every sense of the word.

November 25, 2016

Jimmy's cousin Lucille E. Bocks died September 22.

I'm her son John. johnbocks at comcast.net

rip Mom.

john griffiths

September 24, 2016

I was one of Jim's Poor Blind Candidates for the Clampers, before we had a San Jose Chapter.

Gloria Pariseau

January 31, 2008

I met Jim at a preservation conferance in San Jose and after a few hours i felt as if i had known him all my life. Altough my interactions with Jim were limited he is missed. Jim is a rare find and i know he will be missed by all who he had touched.

Alan Drew

January 3, 2008

I met Jim Arbuckle when we did some of our MBA classes together at Berkeley in 1969 and 1970.
When I left for Australia, Jim took care of my car and as expected sold it for the right price and funds were promptly sent on to me. When Jim was expected to do something, he did it with integrity and to the letter.
Over the years we exchanged a few letters and phone calls, and e-mails more recently.
I have photos of Jim looking very serious on the bicycle. I think it was at age 45 that he was able to enter senior’s competitions and wipe the field, no doubt he was a formidable competitor for many years after. His passion for the heritage and history of his home town I knew. It fitted with the conservative viewpoint, good manners and friendliness that define a gentleman in the finer sense of the word. Though we agreed and disagreed on several matters it was a pleasure to receive his descriptions and arguments that were always civilized and cultured. What I did not know about until recently was the dignity and erudition of his parents. Jim had no children; it is up to us to take on those fine values he demonstrated.
Jim Arbuckle, gentleman, one of the best.

Dan Maneely

November 12, 2007

Jim was my college room mate in 1959/60. We were both studying for our Master's in Engineering and we both loved to ride and race bicycles. I have corresponded with Jim for all these almost 50 years and will miss his thoughts on bicycle racing and on many other subjects. A great loss.

Stan Ketchum

October 8, 2007

I had the pleasure of getting to know Jim when the City of San Jose Planning Department (and I) was given the challenge of having Jim's father Clyde's entire body of historical resources, books, papers and memorabilia appraised after his death to help determine where the collection would reside. Jim was friendly, helpful and certainly carried on his father's tradition and passion for San Jose history. He will be missed!

Tim Abney

August 16, 2007

It was dreadful news to hear of the sudden death of Mr. Jim Arbuckle. My few chats with him were always pleasant and informing. I always wanted to speak with him because he reminded me so much of his father in appearance and intellect. To me, both Clyde and Jim were genuine connections to our deep history in Santa Clara county. I feel priviledged to have meet both gentlemen. The contributions of Jim and his parents are indelible.

Lucille Bocks

August 4, 2007

I want to say "Amen" to the comments of Lorie Garcia, posted on Aug.3. Jim was truly an exceptional person. He must have been loved by many more people in the Valley, than we'll ever know.
I'm having a lonely time without his constant emailing to me, Cousin,
Lucille, Chico

Lorie Garcia

August 3, 2007

Jim was a dear, sweet, dedicated person. It is hard to believe that he is gone. Our Valley has truly suffered the loss of one of its best sons.

Chris Markham

July 18, 2007

I met Jim at Peet's Coffee on Lincoln Avenue soon after it opened. He saw me reading a biography of Richard Feynman and we started to talk. Then I found out he had an old Porsche as well and we were off and running. I would run into him from time to time and on each meeting, we always had long and interesting talks on a number of subjects. He was conversant in the materials science of microchip design, and we had both read a number of the same papers on complex dynamic systems. He was sure there were benefits to be had in using "chaotic dynamics" to improve sputtering of doping materials on silicon wafers. Very advanced stuff but he was diving in with both feet. He was a proud Cal alumni and was happy I was also from a UC school, although not from "The Mother Ship" as he called Berkeley. Jim had a 356B in a lovely Heron Gray color. I saw him behind the wheel a few times in the neighborhood. He was a very friendly, very smart and charmingly eccentric fellow. I will miss his company and intellect.

Mary Lou Lyon

July 17, 2007

I am trying to put together a better biography on Jim for the Santa Clara County Pioneers TrailBlazer. tracking down slender leads. he was a past President of our organization

Milton Chris Carris

July 17, 2007

To all who survive the untimely death of our friend, Mr. Jim Arbuckle :
Jim was above all, a gentleman and an educated wise man who set himself apart and yet blended into the group in such a way that two words come to mind, comfortable intelligence. He was patient, artful, and had a comfortable grace even when involved in a passionate argument/debate. Mostly quiet and unassuming, we are, all who knew him, going to miss his company and contribution.
Sincerely,

Evelyn (Evalyn) Martinez

July 16, 2007

Jim will be missed by all.It has been my pleasure to know him most of my life.He was a member and Board Member of Los Fundadores.

Moureen Lennon

July 16, 2007

Recently enjoyed a lengthy conversation with Jim, and exchanged e-mails with him. Will certainly miss seeing him every now and then but am glad to have had such a nice exchange. We spoke of his desire to have his father's book reprinted in paperback; he wanted to hold off a year before approaching people that may have been able to assist him. Hopefully, someone will be able to carry on this wish.

George Mount

July 15, 2007

A tragedy. I have known Jim for more than a few decades and was to meet him for lunch just the week following this accident. He was a skilled cyclist even to this day, I can't imagine how a puncture would bring him down so easily. He will be missed in my circle of friends.

Jack Verzi

July 15, 2007

Jim Arbuckle & I attended Herbert Hoover Junor High School together from 1948-1949.
We were in the same home room class together.
I remember him quite well, although I hadn't seen him in 58 years.

Lucille Bocks

July 14, 2007

Jimmy was my Dad's sister's child, had come to be my favorite cousin as we became adults. We emailed all the time. Phoned often. I can't believe this loss. He was a good active citizen. A very sad day for me. Being on his bike was the place for him to be. Couldn't have planned a better "take off".
sending love to you, Jim.

John Bocks

July 14, 2007

I'm the son of Jim's cousin Lucille. She will miss him greatly. They'd developed a real connection and e-mailed regularly. Jim had visited her in Chico.

Ralph Pearce

July 14, 2007

Jim was a frequent visitor to the California Room, as well as a neighborhood friend. With a shared passion for history, his energy and enthusiasm will be missed.

Gary Singh

July 14, 2007

About seven years ago, I was flipping through a book called "The Secret Architecture of Our Nation's Capital: The Masons and the Building of Washington, D.C." in which the author was pointing to several Masonic-influenced landmarks, buildings, street plans, et cetera. So I dashed off to the California Room at the library to look for any such crazed equivalents for San Jose -- you know, maybe the original plans for St. James park were all based on Masonic principles, who knows? I sat there looking through a huge volume of the entire history of California Masonry and Jim Arbuckle walked in and said something like, "Hey all those books are in my basement. My dad was the city historian." So we immediately hit it off and exchanged crackpot theories about San Jose history. He will be missed.

Tom Olson

July 13, 2007

Dear Friends of Jim,

Wow, what a loss! Jim was a great friend whom I met back in 1960 while we were in grad school at Berkeley. Smart, a quick wit, a keen palate (for both food and wine), love of biking and any challenging idea, Jim was a friend like you hope to be blessed with on this journy of life.

Peace to all.

Mary McKenna

July 13, 2007

Jim was our excellent membership chair of the University of California Club Santa Clara County. The position was a perfect one for Jim since he knew so many people. Jim enjoyed putting events together. Last year he arranged for a club outing to Cooper-Garrod Winery. Jim of course knew the family owners quite well. Jim had so many interests, not the least of which was his passion to keep Bowles Hall, the residence hall he lived in while at Cal, as a residence hall. We will miss Jim's stories and his good humor. Jim was a true Bear.

Susan Walker

July 13, 2007

Jim was a new friend in my life. I met him last December at the Palm Haven holiday party when he came up to me and said he played in the basement of my house on Riverside Drive when he was a boy! Of course, we struck up a friendship as I loved hearing about the history of San Jose. I always had great fun with Jim and was charmed by his story telling. He brought sunshine into my life and I will miss him dearly.

Frank and Carole Rast

July 13, 2007

We were lucky enough to live along one of Jim's semi-usual bike routes. A 5-minute stop easily turned into an hour's conversation covering dozens of topics all at once. Jim's wit and candor was like no other. He was a great friend and is missed.

Tom McEnery

July 12, 2007

JIm was a fine man, from a storied San Jose family, and ably continued the work of his Mother and Father. San Jose has been enriched by all the Arbuckle Family. TMcE

Bonnie Montgomery

July 12, 2007

Jim and I had lunch together in March at the SJSU History Department honors luncheon. I was being awarded the scholarship in his dad's name. We had seen each other in December at Joan Bohnett's Christmas party, but sitting together at lunch was an even better chance to get caught up. He was a sweet guy, always with a project he was working on. I didn't always know how to answer his questions or deal with his concerns, but he was a bright light whenever I ran into him. I'll miss him.

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