After an unexpectedly long life, James William Brainerd, known as a "cat with 12 lives", a miracle of modern medicine, and someone who had the foresight to marry a Registered Nurse, passed away peacefully at home with family by his side on November 11, 2019.
Jim was born on Feb 8th, 1934 in Colusa, CA to William and Adelaide Brainerd. The family moved to Red Bluff , Ca. and Jim attended St Elizabeth’s Grammar School until 7th grade. A very bright but rambunctious and somewhat incorrigible boy, in 8th grade he was enrolled at St. Joseph’s Seminary School in Mountain View, CA where he graduated from high school and then entered the seminary training for the priesthood. Seems neither his rambunctiousness nor incorrigibility could be tamed by the Sulpician Fathers, and 2 years into his program he opted out and enrolled at the University of California, Berekley. Shortly after leaving the seminary, he went on a blind date with a St. Mary’s of San Francisco nursing student named Audrey DePhillips and within a year they were married. As a married man he felt college was not for him and started his long career with the JC Penney company.
Jim’s career at JCP actually started when he was 7 years old, washing windows for the manager (his father!) at the JCP store in Red Bluff. In his career he advanced from window washer to sales clerk to department manager to store manager to a Regional Manager out of the company offices in San Francisco to the corporate headquarters in New York City as the Head of Salaries, Benefits and Compensation. His career led to adventures for the whole family as they moved from Alameda to Napa to Santa Rosa to Phoenix to Vallejo to Flagstaff to Simi Valley to New York. After 28 years, he retired from JCP at the young age of 49 and was recruited to be a Senior Vice President for TGY Stores in Oklahoma City. He retired again at 53 and was, again, recruited to be a Vice President of Ames Corporation in CT. He finally really retired at the age of 57 and he and Audrey made their way to Chandler, AZ to enjoy the desert they loved
While in the New York office in the 1970's, business technology was just emerging and Jim became interested in computers. With no formal training in the field, he built and programmed 2 computers to aid in his work at JCP. He also started buying computers and improving them...imagine “Tim the Tool Man Taylor” in a business suit. Jim became “tech support” for everyone at JCP and also for family when home computers became available. Over the years he became so advanced and sophisticated at building and programing that he was running household systems, lights, etc on the computer… 20 years before anyone heard of “ Alexa”.
In addition to tinkering with computers, Jim enjoyed complicated crossword puzzles and was quite the reader- his Kindle libraries contained over a1000 books. He had an incredible memory, able to quote verses in Latin and from some of his favorite poetry. Good Irishman that he was, he loved telling stories and had a great sense of humor with a particular talent for making nicknames for people, pets and even cars.
Jim was known to all family and close friends as the Bionic Man, the Energizer Bunny, the Timex watch. Born with a heart condition he had his first heart procedure at 22 years old. Over the years he had a few heart attacks, 2 triple heart bypasses, a quadruple heart bypass, stents, a couple of pacemakers, old age onset Celiac Disease, kidney failure after flu and severe dehydration ( survived w/ Dialysis for 6 months)...but none of the medical challenges ever kept him from a full, active life or defeated his positive outlook and humor.
For over 62 years Jim had a partner in crime, his wife Audrey. They danced, played golf, attended concerts, went on vacations to Hawaii and Tahiti, enjoyed golf junkets to South Carolina and loved the theater in New York. They raised 6 kids, a long list of cats and one hyper poodle. And they laughed. A lot.
Jim was preceded in death by his wife, Audrey and his grandson, Frank James Sanservino. He is survived by his children: daughter, Kathleen, son David (Meryl Leigh), daughter Jeanne (Mike), son James/aka BOY, daughter MaryAnn (Frank) and daughter Angi; his grandchildren: Shannon (Erik), Brian (Jenelle) and Savannah; his 3 great-grandsons: Parker, David and Lucas; his siblings: Margaret, Barbara and Bob and many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.
The Irish humor. The Irish gift of gab. The Irish storytelling. A good old fashioned Irish Wake will start with a memorial service on Sunday, December 15th , at 2:00pm at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Rio Vista, CA. Directly following the service, we will gather at The Point Restaurant to share stories and raise a glass or two. The family encourages attendees to wear their best worst Christmas sweater or other holiday attire.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests making a memorial tribute donation in Jim’s name to Hospice of San Joaquin. HOSPICESJ.ORG
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