James Stivers Obituary

STIVERS-James Neal Stivers, Jim was born on July 29, 1919 in White Plains, Kentucky. He was the second of four sons. Neal and Pansye Stivers moved their family to Sierra Madre at which point Jim met his wife starring opposite each other in an operetta at Wilson Middle School in Pasadena. Jim married Margaret Jean Corbett in 1940. Jim's work career began in ship building during WWII in Long Beach. At the end of the war, his father Neal set up a building business with his sons Jim and Truman. Stivers & Co. specialized in the building (and later management) of, commercial real estate. Jim and Jean had three children, James, David and Kathleen, and raised the children in Pasadena. Jim and Jean were extremely active members of the community. One of their first projects was starting and building the San Marino Congregational Church. Over his long career, Jim was an active member of the Tournament of Roses since 1957 and joined the Board of Education, going on to become president. He was also very involved with the running of the Pasadena Civic Auditorium. His most enduring community work was with the Rose Bowl where he helped to form the Rose Bowl Operating Company. He was active in the planning process for its renovation at the time of his death. Community work was Jim's primary "extra curricular" activity though he also enjoyed reading mystery novels and biographies, wood carving and musicals, on stage and screen. Jim died of heart failure at Huntington Memorial Hospital on May 17, 2010 surrounded by his children and grandchildren. Jim is survived by his wife of 70 years, Jean, his three children, James Stivers, David Stivers, and Kathleen Schmutz, five grandchildren, Tanya Stivers, Julie Arutunian, Ron Stivers, Jeff Stivers and Kevin Stivers, and his five great grandchildren, Kaileen Stivers, Riley Scaff, Hudson Stivers, Ava Stivers and Jessie Arutunian and host of friends through-out the community. In Lieu of Flowers at the request of the family donations should be made to the Rose Bowl Operating Company (RBOC), 1001 Rose Bowl Drive, Pasadena, CA 91103 to go towards the Rose Bowl Stadium Renovation. There will be a memorial service in celebration of his life on Thursday, May 27th, 2010 at 11 am at the Rose Bowl.