James Jefferson 1925-2014 

Rememberd by his wife Diane Jefferson

James Jefferson died peacefully in his home on August 22, 2014.

He had three children during his first marriage. His second wife, Diane brought him two more daughters 42 years ago that he accepted as his own.He has eight grandchildren and many great grandchildren. He was very much in love with and proud of his large, extended family.

Jim had two careers:

He was in the Navy for 17 years.  After completing college (University of Minnesota program extension of the Naval Academy during WWII), some of his assignments included  being communications officer on a Seaplane Tender during an expedition to Antarctica conducted  by Admiral Byrd shortly after WWII ended, and for his last Naval assignment, he was loaned to the Brazilian Navy in Rio de Janeiro from 1957-59.  During his Rio assignment, he taught courses on shipboard electronics and helped plan the Naval communications network in the new capital of Brazilia while it was under design and construction.

His favorite Naval assignment, however, was the stay on the USS DeHaven from 1950-52 where he was a LTJG.  He loved the teamwork and cooperation required to make a comparatively small ship-of-war operate effectively and safely.  He was very proud of each and every member of the crew with which he worked and remembered almost every name mentioned in the Raven DeHaven of people who served on that ship at the same time he did. Jim was a member of the USS DeHaven Sailors Association and attended the reunion in San Francisco.

His second career, which lasted almost 30 was as a technical writer.  His last position was at Ampex Corporation, a leader in commercial television and radio studio equipment where he was manager of technical publications.

His lifelong interest was trains. Steam Engines and Central Pacific Railroad history were his favorite subjects.  

During his stay in Brazil he developed a love for Bossa Nova.  This was added to his favorite music--Classical, particularly during the romantic period.  There many other interests, too numerous to mention.

 I'll miss him.