James "Jim" Irvin Smith

James Irvin Smith, also known as Jim and Papa, passed away at home on October 13, 2024. He was a loving husband to Dorothy; devoted father to Jeff (Paula), Mark (Tracy), and Kara (Stacy); unforgettable Papa to Spencer, Emma, Jesse, Parker, and Preston; big brother to Mike; and faithful owner to Ollie. He was preceded in death by his parents, James and Helen.  

He was born May 12, 1941, in San Francisco, CA and grew up in Redwood City. He lived briefly in Seattle and Santa Clara; then raised his family in Chico and ultimately retired to La Selva Beach. He earned his BS degree in Business from Menlo College. He met Dorothy Fontana, the love of his life, at a dance while attending college, and they married on June 26, 1965. He worked as the Manager of Installation at Mathews Conveyer/Rexnord, owned and operated the Print Smith in Chico, and was an estimator at Cupertino Electric.  

Throughout the years, he enjoyed going to car shows and had an affinity for Corvettes, even owning a 1976 red Corvette for many years. In his younger years he enjoyed camping, volunteering for the Boy Scouts of America, and bowling. He was the perpetual proud Dad and Grandpa, and especially enjoyed playing mini golf with his grandkids and making them special papa pancakes. He was also known for his sweet-tooth and enjoyed licorice, cookies, ice cream, and all things with marshmallows. Most importantly, he loved anything that involved spending time with his family.  

He attended Catholic Mass for many years to support his family and in his later years participated in the Rite of Christian Initiation (RCIA). He was a member of the Resurrection Church and a long-standing member of the Italian Catholic Federation. He also volunteered for many years at Grey Bears in Santa Cruz. His generosity of spirit, warm smile, and kindness will be deeply missed. 

Services will be held at Resurrection Church, 7600 Soquel Dr, Aptos, CA on Wednesday, October 23, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Hospice of Santa Cruz County, Grey Bears, or Resurrection Church.