James Walter Duncan IV

Jim died in the arms of his wife, Claudia, as he and she and their two children were doing what they loved to do together: walk and hike in the gorgeous and refreshing sunlight of the mountains, rocks and deserts of California. It was Sunday, June 24, mid afternoon, on a trail in the Santa Monica mountains. He had just taken a photo of his family, the blue Pacific forming a picturesque background, when an apparent heart attack felled him, and he died instantly. He was only 52. Born in Long Beach and raised in Buena Park, Jim graduated from Servite High School and San Diego State University. His surviving family includes wife Claudia, son Jimmy, daughter Sierra, brother Mike, mother Katie, and father James, III. His youngest brother, Andrew, predeceased him in 2012. Jim and Claudia shared the City of West Hollywood as their employer - it’s where they met and fell in love. The day after his death, the City - his alternate family, as it were - flew its flags at half-mast in his honor, a singular gesture of respect much appreciated by Claudia. Information systems was Jim’s passionate professional interest. He was a supervisor in that field for the City and was also a leader in professional associations related to IT. Outside of work, Jim could not get enough of his children. He loved being with both of them: Jimmy on a soccer field, riding his bike, swimming in a pool, or talking about trains; Sierra at a dance recital, or participating in some artistic or educational activity. It was Jim's passion for the Sierra Mountains that led them to select Sierra’s name. Among Jim’s interests were cooking - he looked forward to the challenge of trying a new recipe, usually while enjoying a cold beer; he also loved rock climbing - especially at Joshua Tree National Park; but in general, he was happy being outdoors on a wonderful trail, especially in the company of friends and family. As Claudia indeed recalls with emphasis, "Jim truly loved his friends," and indeed there were many. A funeral mass will be held Monday morning July 9 at 10:30 am, at the parish of his early life, St. Philip Benizi in Fullerton. Donations in his memory to Joshua Tree National Park Association, 74485 National Park Drive, Twentynine Palms, CA 92277, in lieu of flowers, will be a wonderful way to honor him. Jim was a dedicated and loving dad, husband, son, and brother. We, his sad and grieving family, can’t easily visualize life without him. But out of respect to what we know he wants, we will move on … but we’ll never forget him and will forever miss him.