James T. McMillan

1925 - 2022

James Thomas McMillan, aged 97, of Manhattan Beach, California, our much loved family patriarch and friend, passed away peacefully on Saturday morning, October 29, 2022, surrounded by loved ones.

Jim was born in Alhambra, CA, to parents James and Mary (Hurley) McMillan on August 5, 1925. He graduated as "Outstanding Boy" from elementary school and was the class valedictorian at Mark Keppel High School. Jim joined the US Navy in 1942, at the age of 17, and served in the Pacific theater during WWII aboard the USS Barnwell. He celebrated his 18th birthday in the Philippines.

When WWII ended, he enrolled at USC under the GI Bill, where he earned a Bachelor's of Science Degree in Engineering, graduating Tau Beta Pi and Chi Epsilon in 1951. More importantly, while at USC, he met the love of his life, Jean Margaret Grunlund, on a blind date. Jim and Jean married on June 27, 1953.

With Mom's loving support, Dad earned his law degree from UCLA in 1954, graduating Order of the Coif. After working during law school for the state of California as a freeway system design engineer, Dad joined Douglas Aircraft in 1954, where he worked for modern aviation pioneer Donald Douglas, Sr., first as Assistant Patent Counsel, then as Assistant General Counsel, and finally as Vice President of Finance. Douglas Aircraft and McDonnell Aircraft merged in 1968 and Dad joined McDonnell Douglas Corporation, where he worked for another modern aviation pioneer, James S. McDonnell. Dad served as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of McDonnell Douglas Finance Corporation for over 25 years before his retirement in 1990. During his career with McDonnell Douglas, he also served as Senior Vice President of McDonnell Douglas Corporation and as President and CEO of McDonnell Douglas Realty Corporation.

During his business career and after retiring, Dad served on the Loyola Marymount Board of Regents, the UCLA Board of Trustees, the Board of Directors of Irish Aerospace, Ltd., and as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center. Mom and Dad were also long-time, enthusiastic supporters of Saint Raphael's School in South Central Los Angeles, and Dad was especially proud to support the Cancer Support Community South Bay, an organization co-founded by our Mom. Mom and Dad spent 65 happy years together, raising their five children in the South Bay, traveling to six continents, welcoming their many friends and their children's friends into their Palm Avenue home, and supporting their local and global communities in every way they could.

Jim is survived by his five children (Suzanne, Brian and his wife Caroline, David and his wife Mary, Kiki and her spouse Anne, and Mary and her husband, Paul Popovich), and his beloved grandsons, John and David Popovich, along with many cherished nieces, nephews, and an extended family that spans the globe, from Vancouver Island to New Zealand and beyond. The family would also like to acknowledge and thank his wonderful caregiver Connie Lumibao, who provided Dad with so many moments of joy, camaraderie, and comfort in his final years.

Jim was predeceased by his beloved wife Jean, his parents James and Mary McMillan, his sisters Kathleen Gould, Mary Surmeier, Frances Barney, and their respective spouses, his beloved sister- and brother-in-law, Barbro and Bill Moncur, his wife's parents John and Gerda Grunlund, and many friends who were, in every way, family, including Skip and Liz Watson and Ebba and Len Jennings.

Dad was known for his competitive spirit, his business acumen, his pride in his Irish heritage, his singular singing voice, his love of Christmas lights, his passion for running, his appreciation for what he called the perfect meal (wieners & beans & sliced tomatoes), and his later-in-life obsession with ballroom dancing but mostly he was known for his profound love for his wife and his family. He and Mom could be found holding hands on the sofa on fall Saturday afternoons, cheering on their beloved USC Trojan football team (Fight On!).

A memorial mass and celebration of Dad's life will be held on Saturday, December 10th at 10:00 a.m. at American Martyrs Church in Manhattan Beach, CA. An informal reception will follow at O'Donnell Hall. All are welcome! The mass will also be live-streamed. For more information, visit americanmartyrs.org on the day of the service.

In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully suggests that donations be made to the Cancer Support Community South Bay (2601 Airport Drive, Suite 100, Torrance, CA 90505, ph. 310-376-3550