James C. Laird

James C. Laird - LAIRD, JAMES C. - Loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather, Jim died peacefully in Fairfield, CA on December 28th. He was born in Brooklyn, New York on October 6, 1918. He married his wife of 61 years, Lorraine Phillips Laird, who preceded him in death in 2001. Together in Menlo Park, they raised 3 children; Robert Laird of Santa Rosa, Jean White of Napa and Bonnie Martel of Ben Lomand. Jim was proud grandfather to Jeff Lantis, Kimberly Teeter, Lori McGilpin and Duncan Laird. Cherished father-in-law to Bruce White and John Martel, and great grandfather to Sarah Lantis and Liza McGilpin. Family and friends will remember his great sense of humor and easy going personality. His skill and passion for golf was shared with all of his family and many friends and he continued to give golf tips to anyone who would listen. Everyone was awed by his uncanny ability to pick up and play any musical instrument even though he never had a musical lesson. Up until his 90th birthday, he enjoyed a lifelong thirst for knowledge that kept him busy on the computer. He had a way with words and was truly a one of a kind storyteller. Jim attended Brooklyn Technical and Erasmus Hall High Schools. After the service he became a commercial airline pilot for TWA. In 1951 he and Lorraine moved their family to California where he worked in Sales and Management for Lachman Bros. Furniture store in both San Francisco and San Jose. After retiring, they moved to Oakmont in Santa Rosa where they made many new friends who enjoyed sharing their interests in golf and bridge. Jim also worked at Charles Krug and Sequoia Grove wineries where he loved giving tours and telling great jokes. He will be greatly missed and remembered as a seeker, a loving and generous self-made man who was true to his convictions. Jim always "did it his way," whether it was joining the Army Air Corps below the legal age or enjoying favorite foods that would have shocked a nutritionist. We want to thank his devoted caregivers Cindy and Amir at St. Peterchr(39)s Residential Care Home in Fairfield for their wonderful care these past 3 years.