Santa Ana, CA

James Alexander Grimes, MD, of Santa Ana, CA, passed away peacefully on our great nation’s birthday, July 4, 2025, at the age of 86.

Jim was born on August 1, 1938, in Brooklyn, New York, to the late Dr. Richard and Mrs. Margaret Alice (Carroll) Grimes. Jim was preceded in death by his parents and three of his siblings, William, Dr. Richard, and Dr. Carroll Grimes.

He attended St. Andrew Avellino Catholic School in Flushing, NY, and All Hallows High School in the Bronx. He graduated from Fordham University in 1960. At Fordham, he met and later married his sweetheart, Barbara Lee McCarey, on the ‘real’ Memorial Day, May 30, 1960. Jim and Barbara enjoyed 65 years of marriage.

Jim graduated from the SUNY Downstate Medical School with a Degree in Medicine in 1964. Jim was in private practice in Tustin, specializing in Cardiology. He attended to patients at St. Joseph Hospital and the Lestonnac Free Clinic and enjoyed being the stadium doctor for the CA Angels. He was honored to be the Chief of Staff at St. Joseph Hospital.

Jim proudly served in the Navy and was embedded with the Marines as a Naval Flight Surgeon. He was stationed at Pensacola, Camp Pendleton, and MCAS El Toro. He served in Vietnam from 1966 to 1967. He retired as Lt. Cmdr in the Navy. Jim became a docent on the USS Midway in San Diego in 2014 and volunteered 1400 hours, sharing his love of military history with patrons. In his spare time, Jim loved the beaches in Hawaii, fishing with his girls in Mammoth, and enjoying jazz with Barbara at the Mammoth Lakes Jazz Festival. Jim was an avid reader and often loaned titles to family and friends so they could discuss the book. Jim is lovingly remembered for his storytelling, generosity, and kindness.

Jim is survived by his wife, Barbara, sisters Nancy McLernon and Frannie (Arthur) Leudesdorf, sister-in-law Beverly Grimes, daughters Peggy (John) Castner, Erin (Antony) Myers, Mary (Michael) Trotter, Megan (Doug) Hayden, Maureen (Wayne) Clark, Susan (Phil) Landolphi, 19 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild.

A rosary vigil will be held at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Newport Beach, CA, at 6:00 pm on Thursday, July 17, followed by a Funeral Mass on Friday, July 18, at 10 am at the same location. Private burial to be held at Miramar National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund.