Dr. James Alexander Grimes

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 the All Hallows

High School in the Bronx. He graduated from Fordham University in 1960. At Ford-
ham, 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 sta-
dium doctor for the CA Angels. He was honored to be a 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 1966-1967. 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 Mam-
moth 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 story
telling, 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 Viet-
nam Veterans Memorial Fund.

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