John Delmar James

John D. James, born December 7, 1944, died peacefully on February 21, 2025. John was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY and graduated from Regis High School in New York City. He was also a graduate of LeMoyne College in Syracuse, NY where he met his wife, Marie G “Pidge” James. They were married in 1967. John served in the First Infantry in Vietnam. After his military service John and Pidge moved to Rochester, NY where he was Vice President of Marketing for Rochester Blue Cross /Blue Shield. In 1980 they moved to Des Moines, IA and John was Vice President of Marketing at Iowa Blue Cross/ Blue Shield for 3 years before he joined Pioneer Hi Bred International, from which he retired in 2000 as Senior Vice President. During John’s career he had extensive international responsibilities and he and Pidge grew to love travel. In both Rochester and Des Moines John served on many non-profit boards to benefit those communities. And he served on the Board of Trustees of LeMoyne College in Syracuse and Drake University in Des Moines. John is survived by three children: Dore Smith, Steven James, and Chris James as well as 11 grandchildren: Chaz, Tyler, Brandon, Jade, Nigel, Trinity, Josh, Jack, Carter, Chloe, Piper, and 2 great grandchildren, Kai and Ezra. Memorial donations may be made to LeMoyne College or Jesuit Refugee Services or the St. Francis Center on St. Helena Island. A Memorial Mass will be held on Monday, March 3, 2025, at 10:30 am, at St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church, Bluffton, South Carolina.

LeMoyne College
Web: https://www.lemoyne.edu/alumni/donate/

Jesuit Refugee Service USA
1016 16th St NW #500, Washington DC 20036

The St. Francis Center
85 Mattis Drive, St Helena Island SC 29920