James Robert Regan

James Robert Regan peacefully passed away at the tender age of 65 on Wednesday, February 26th in a Bakersfield hospital surrounded by those who loved him most, his closest family and friends. For all who had the pleasure of knowing James throughout his life, he was better known as “Jimmy”.

Born on April 11, 1954, to his late parents. Bill and Catharine Regan, Jimmy entered the family as the third born which already included his older siblings, late sister Mary and brother Bill Jr. The family did welcome a fourth and final baby, Casey, who quickly blessed their lives before sadly departing. Jimmy grew up the youngest.

Agriculture was part of the Regan family heritage since 1906 with established farmland in the Pond area. With Jimmy’s Dad being a second-generation farmer, it was no surprise that Jimmy himself would be toiling the dirt starting at 8 years old driving a tractor.

Jimmy enjoyed the water and was a competitive swimmer. When he graduated from Delano High School in 1973, he had competed in swimming and water polo for all 4 years. Just in the Summer of last year, he had the honor of being recognized in the Delano High School Hall of Fame for his athletic participation. He went on to Bakersfield College where he played an additional 2 years of water polo while graduating with an AA degree in 1975.

Not too long after, Jimmy would welcome his most prized honor, the honor of being called ”Dad.” On September 20, 1978, he welcomed his first daughter, Mandy Rae, who suddenly became this family’s angel. Jimmy always took the time to remember and visit his daughter. On December 22, 1979, he welcomed his only son, James Casey. Being born so close to Christmas that he came home in a stocking. Several years later on June 15, 1982, he welcomed his youngest, Tristan Rae, who carried on her beloved sister’s name.

While raising two children, Jimmy still worked on the family farm. It wasn’t until 1990 with the passing of his parents that he would take over the family business full time. Up until the end, Jimmy still worked the same family land and it wasn’t unusual to see him connected with an ear-piece attached to his ear conducting business while munching on a good tamale! He was a relentlessly hard worker.

Just as McFarland is the heartbeat of Agriculture, the same sentiment could be said of Jimmy’s passion for his farming heritage and for his local community. Jimmy valued service and goodwill, giving back was his way of saying thank you to the community that befriended and supported his family for so many generations. Throughout the years, Jimmy had served his community with gleaming pride and participated in local organizations as such:

Harvest Holiday Planner and Superintendent, Junior Livestock Show, Director and Vice President,

Delano Youth Foundation, Trustee, Pond School, Director, Southern San Joaquin Municipal

District, Member, Delano Elks Lodge 1761 and Member, Sons of the Legion.

Other community groups that he contributed to were:

Delano High School Cheerleaders, DT Helmet Club, Little League Baseball, McFarland 4-H,

Columbine School, Greenfield Trucking, Cinco de Mayo Queen’s BBQ, McFarland Parks and

Recreation Department Swim Team.

He had also been recognized and awarded for this charitable work and efforts such as:

Grand Marshal, Harvest Holidays Grand Parade, “Person of the Year” Award, Greater Delano

Youth Foundation, McFarland Parks and Recreation Service Award, DT Helmet Club Appreciation

Award, “Sincere Thanks” Award, Delano Little League, Service Award, Elks Lodge 1761, “Elk of

the Year”, Elks Lodge 1761, Recognition, McFarland Cougar Baseball and McFarland Parks and

Recreation District Youth Baseball.

There’s a quote that says “Love is not something you go out and look for. Love finds you, and when it does, ready or not, it’ll be the best thing to ever happen to you.” Jimmy found that in Denise - he was smitten. In March 2010, they exchanged vows in an intimate wedding ceremony in Vegas. He adored his wife and their house full of furbabies. Sharing endless drives to their beach house or a nice road trip in their RV - their calendar was always full of events. But when they had a moment to sit by the fire while Jimmy kicked his feet up in his comfy recliner next to his right-hand girl, it was all he really needed.

Jimmy had an affinity for baseball and for the Los Angeles Dodgers. His love for the game was another deeply rooted Regan legacy that he bestowed onto his children who are also uber-fans.

He enjoyed BBQing and shared this passion with many. Some may have had the pleasure of enjoying Jimmy’s delicious tri-tip. He eventually started his own catering business with Tristan and Denise cooking for large special events.

Jimmy dedicated his life to his family and treasured his newest role as Papa to his only grandchild, Logan-James. He was a loving husband to Denise, a devoted father to Casey and Tristan and a caring and thoughtful father in law to Tiana.

He is also survived by his brother, Bill Jr. (Marlene), three nephews and 2 grandnephews.

The legacy Jimmy leaves behind is insurmountable. He was one of a kind. His love lives on within us. Jimmy will be forever missed.

A service for Jimmy will be held at St. Mary of the Miraculous Medal Church, 916 Lexington Street in Delano on Tuesday, March 10, 2020, at 10 a.m. Join the family for a celebration of Jimmy’s life that will be held after the services at the Elks Lodge, 708 Cecil Avenue in Delano.

The family asks in honor of Jimmy that donations to either St. Mary of the Miraculous Medal Delano or Ridley-Tree Cancer Center at Samsun Clinic in Santa Barbara be given in lieu of flowers.