James Neare Gamble

GAMBLE-James Neare Gamble Sept. 1 7, 1922 - March 15, 2004 Civic leader and long-time Pasadena resident, has died at the age of 81. Known for his gracious leadership, quick wit and sharp intellect, Jim served on a number of community institutions ranging from hospitals to schools to foundations. His involvement at Huntington Memorial Hospital, where he chaired the Board of Directors and the Board of Trustees, spanned thirty-three years. After serving as President of the Community Chest of Pasadena in the 1950's, Jim co-founded Pasadena Area Residential Aid (PARAID), a non-profit foundation that spearheaded donor-directed funds. Jim chaired the Gamble House Advisory Board until his death, was a trustee of Scripps College, Polytechnic School, Westridge School, Monte Vista Grove Homes, Hollenbeck Homes, Pasadena Public Library, Rotary Club of Pasadena, Pasadena Y.M.C.A., Scripps College, as well as other institutions. Along with his daughters, their spouses, and his wife, Jim founded a family foundation known as Ayrshire after the part of S cotland where his family originated.Jim was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on September 17, 1922, the youngest of six children of Cecil H. and Louise G. Gamble. He was educated at the Lotspeich School, Choate Preparatory, Princeton University, and received an M.B.A. from Harvard after serving in WWII. He entered active duty as Private in 1943, fought overseas in France and Germany for two years as Field Artillery Communications Officer, Aerial Observer and Battalion Commander, and was released to Inactive Servic e as Captain in 1946. In 1946, Jim married Harriet Seaton whom he had met as a teenager while spending the summer in Northern Michigan, a multi-generational tradition for both the Gamble and the Seaton families. It was in Northern Michigan that Jim developed his passion for golf, tennis, and particularly, sailing, competing as a boy and on into his middle years. Jim served for over forty years on the board of the Northern Michigan Hospitals and Northern Michigan Hospital Foundation. Jim and Harriet moved to Pasadena in 1948 and had two daughters, Tracy and Terry. After working for A.M. Clifford Investment Counseling, Gamble started his own investment firm in 1956 that grew into Gamble, Jones, Morphy and Bent. In 1966, Gamble, along with his siblings, donated what is now The Gamble House to the city of Pasadena and the University of Southern California to be preserved and opened to the public as a prime example of the architecture of Greene and Greene. Jim was married for 49 years to his wife Harriet who died in 1995. In 1997, he married Helen Lee Wall. He is survived by his wife, Helen, his daughters, Tracy Hirrel and Terry Boyer, his sons-in-law Richard and Peter, grandchildren Brian, Katie, Chapin and Anna, great-granddaughter Kylie, stepsons Jim and Peter Lichtman, and myriad beloved nieces and nephews. It is a testimony to the enduring friendships and affection Jim cultivated throughout his life that in the last months he was contacted by friends ranging back to his grade school days in Cincinnati, his coll ege years, as well as his long-term Pasadena, Santa Barbara and Michigan friends and associates who have called, written, or visited his bedside. A man who was humble about the effect and impact he made on people, Jim was surprised and delighted by the outpouring of support and friendship he received in the last few months. Although he was gravely ill, his humor and concern remained intact until the end. He will be remembered and missed by many. In Lieu of Flowers: Please send donations to the Huntington Me morial Hospital or The Gamble House. Cabot & Sons, Pasadena