James William Curry Sr.

Jim Curry, age 80, passed away peacefully in his Carlsbad home on Wednesday January 2nd, 2019. He was born on April 7th, 1938 in Johnstown, PA to Fay Curry. He began his professional career in the U.S. Navy and served honorably for four years. After the Navy he moved to the West Coast and settled in the Los Angeles area. He married his first wife, Rosalie Sowma in 1961 and together they had 2 children, Shereen and Jim Jr.

Jim was an entrepreneur at heart, owning and managing a successful a liquor store business and having been a prolific salesman for wine and spirits companies. He hit his professional stride in the 1970s, launching a thriving 30-plus-year career in residential real estate and being a multi-year Centurion, among Century 21’s highest accolades for top producers. He met Maria Villasenor during that chapter, and they embarked on the beginning of a 32-year adventure together.

Jim felt most at home near the beach and fulfilled his dream of ocean living in the late 1980s, relocating to Carlsbad where he and Maria eventually married and settled into the laid back San Diego lifestyle. He was a lover of life and people, with the unique ability of connecting with anyone and making new friends wherever he went. His charm, wit and sense of humor were second to none. You knew he loved you if he was giving you a hard time.

Jim loved playing cards, especially poker, and would spend endless days hustling his friends at the local Coffee Bean until the baristas kicked them out. He had an extraordinary green thumb, and devoted many hours to tending to his orchids and winning awards from his local orchid club. He was an avid Pittsburgh Steelers fan and delighted in ribbing his friends about the shortcomings of their own sports teams. A lover of food and home-cooked meals, Jim felt it his culinary duty to offer his insights on “what would make your dish better” the next time you cooked it. He also never missed his favorite t.v. shows, which included 60 Minutes, Judge Judy and Jerry Springer. He devoured crime drama books an never missed an opportunity to read the latest John Grisham or James Patterson novel.

As a person, there was no one more patient, kind, generous or loyal. He valued tradition and openly cherished family and friends. He was open and trusting, always willing to be a crazy character in one of Maria’s many themed parties. He was a bright star and his light will be missed.

Jim is survived by his wife Maria Curry; daughter Shereen Kelly, son-in-law, Clive and grandchildren Kimberlyn and Sean; son Jim Jr.; Stepdaughter Veronica Villasenor Mosher, son-in-law Paul Mosher and granddaughter Olivia; Stepson Jonathan Villasenor and daughter-in-law Nora Torres.

The family will host a viewing and visitation from 4pm-8pm on Saturday January 5th at El Camino Memorial, 5600 Carroll Canyon Rd., San Diego, CA. Funeral services will be held at 2pm on Sunday January 6th also at El Camino Memorial, and family and friends are invited to a reception immediately following the program.