James Michael Stanton

Jim Stanton passed away peacefully at his home on April 4th, 2018 at the age of 85. He was born in Chicago, Illinois to Michael and Sophie (nee Ryba) Smokorowski on July 10, 1932. Jim was a first generation American. His heritage was Ukrainian and Polish.

Jim was born and raised on the south side of Chicago. It was in the depths of the Great Depression and times were very difficult for the family. In order to heat the family’s small flat, his father walked along the railroad to gather pieces of coal that fell from open railroad cars going to the foundry of a nearby factory in which he worked. In later years when Jim was 9 years old his father had fulltime employment with the onset of World War Two. The family could then afford to buy coal and it was Jim’s chore during the winter months to carry buckets of coal from a shed bordering the alley to their second-story apartment. Jim greatly disliked entering the rat infested shed to get the coal. Because the apartment did not have central heat, a coal burning, pot-belly stove in the kitchen was used to warm the entire apartment of approximately 800 square feet.

From the 4th grade through high school Jim was never without a part-time job. He was always helping the family. In elementary school he delivered and sold papers or sold milk to factory workers from 5:30 to 7:30 am before going to school. In the Chicago winter, subzero temperatures were not uncommon in the predawn hours, but Jim was paid $7.50 a week for selling milk – a great wage for a boy working part time in 1946. In high school he was either a busboy or a stock boy.

Jim attended Catholic elementary school and Catholic high school. After graduating from high school in 1950, he worked at a major distribution warehouse in Chicago checking the accuracy of incoming shipments for the now defunct F. W. Woolworth retail stores. After one year, and seeing no future in unskilled employment, he enrolled at the University of Illinois in Champaign/Urbana. A college education was affordable back in 1951; in-state semester tuition was $28. He graduated in 1955 in the top 3 percent of his class, earning him University Honors with his name on the University Bronze Tablet in the library. Later, he earned a masters degree from the Harvard Business School, class of 1967. He also graduated from the U. S. Naval War College, class of 1973.

Jim met Sandra Swanker, the love of his life and life-long essential partner on a blind date in 1956. He was stationed on the USS Cowell (DD 547) home ported in Long Beach, California and Sandra was teaching school in nearby Bellflower. She had recently moved from Iowa. They had three children: Cynthia, Nancy, and Jeffrey.

Jim led a full professional life with three careers: 21 years as a U. S. Navy Officer, 30 years as a college professor, and 16 concurrent years as the elective City Treasurer of Carlsbad, California. Upon graduating from the University of Illinois in 1955, Jim decided to serve his country by enlisting in the U. S. Navy as an officer candidate. Although not planned, that led to a career as a U. S. Navy Officer. Jim, his wife, Sandra, and the children spent the next 21 years living in various locations in the United States as well as living overseas and experiencing the people and cultures of Japan, Guam, Thailand, and the Philippines. While stationed in Japan, Jim climbed Mt. Fuji on August 15 and 16, 1969. During the course of his Navy career, and many times with his family, Jim drove or flew across the US, coast to coast 14 times, and crossed the International Date Line in the Pacific 18 times. He loved the progressive responsibilities and challenges that came with each promotion and duty station. Jim was a Vietnam veteran and served there at the height of the war. Most of all, he respected and admired the integrity and reliability of his shipmates. He often said his greatest professional privilege was wearing the uniform of a member of the United States Navy.

Jim retired from the Navy as a commander in 1976 to accept a full-time faculty position at MiraCosta College in Oceanside, California teaching financial accounting. He prepared for his new career by first teaching night classes at several

universities and colleges. Jim was a dedicated and passionate teacher who measured his success by the many successes of his former students and also by his success in finding part-time jobs for current students. During his tenure, Jim was elected by his faculty colleagues to three terms as President of the Academic Senate, a leadership position representing faculty in discussions with the President of the College and the Governing Board of Trustees on all matters academic and professional. After 30 years of teaching, Jim retired from MiraCosta College, as Professor of Accounting Emeritus, in 2006.

His third professional career started in 1990 when he was elected to the position of Carlsbad City Treasurer. In serving the community, he was responsible for the cash management of the City and all of its agencies. He also managed the City’s investment portfolio. He wrote the City’s Investment Policy for City Council approval, and developed monthly and annual reports of investment activities. For the 16 years that he was the Carlsbad City Treasurer Jim personally made each investment as the investment portfolio grew from $75 million to over $550 million. After 16 years Jim retired in 2006 from his position as Carlsbad City Treasurer.

His favorite sport was competitive badminton. He competed in the California State Senior Olympics. Jim also enjoyed sail boating, playing friendly poker with colleagues, watching University of Illinois basketball and football, and watching classic movies. Jim was foremost a Chicago White Sox fan, but he was also a San Diego Padre fan and for over 20 years and had season tickets behind home plate. As the City Treasurer of Carlsbad, Jim threw out the ceremonial first pitch prior to the game between the San Diego Padres and the New York Mets in the San Diego baseball stadium on July 3, 1994. As a memento, and at Jim’s request, Tony Gwynn autographed the baseball used.

Jim was forthright and results oriented. He believed in personal responsibility and often said that decisions made and decisions not made have consequences, and it was necessary that they did. He had a strong self-discipline and would forego immediate satisfaction for greater future gain. Jim was a generous and loving husband, father, and grandfather.

At the urging of his wife, Sandra, Jim wrote a history of his life. In his history, he said his purpose was to add a small part to the family continuum, and in so doing pay tribute and honor to the memories of his father and mother. In his history, he quoted Cicero (106-43), orator and statesman of ancient Rome, “Not to know what happened before we were born is to remain perpetually a child. For what is the worth of a human life unless it is woven in the life of our ancestors by the record of history.” He told family members wherever life takes you remember who you are and where you came from. His history was published and recorded in the Library of Congress, control number 2008911907.

Jim is survived by his beloved wife of 60 years, Sandra (nee Swanker); 3 adoring children - Cynthia Churchman (Larry), Nancy Jordan, Jeffrey Stanton (Angie); and 6 beautiful grandchildren - Allison Churchman, Kellie Churchman, Kevin Jordan, Caitlin Jordan, Matthew Stanton, and Stephanie Stanton. Jim loved being with his family and to him, life was a celebration of family. Someone said that death is a state where one continues to exist in the memories of the living. For his family, Jim continues to exist with love and appreciation. (We will always love and remember you!)

Interment was at the Miramar National Cemetery on April 16, 2018.