James V. Mahern

September 21, 1943 - August 7, 2020

James V. Mahern (“Jim”), 76, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, surrounded by his family. He was born in Fulton, New York, raised his family in Pleasanton, California, spent time in Pacific Grove and San Francisco, before settling in Vallejo eight years ago. Jim was born to Helen Elizabeth Smith and Edward Joseph Mahern, Sr., the younger brother to his brother, Ed. Jim graduated from Oswego Catholic High School and Le Moyne College in Syracuse, NY. Jim met the love of his life, Marcelline Ann Maher, at Le Moyne. They married and had three children, Jim Jr., Maureen, and Bridget. October 3rd would be their 56th wedding anniversary. In 1971, Jim and his young family moved to Pleasanton, California, a community where they lived for over 25 years. Living on a street filled with families, Jim was the dad who regularly loaded the neighborhood kids into the station wagon for a trip to the local ice cream shop. In Pleasanton, Jim and Marcelline made numerous life-long friends, who are still an important part of their lives. Jim spent most of his professional career in the food industry as a food broker, marketing executive, and as a franchisee of two Togo’s sandwich shops in San Francisco. Jim was affiliated with several professional organizations, serving as President of the Northern California Food Brokers Association and Togo’s Eatery Franchise Association. He was also a retail sales consultant for John F. Kennedy University. He served as a board member for the Country Club Gate Homeowners Association in Pacific Grove and Hiddenbrooke Property Owners Association in Vallejo. Jim was dedicated to making the world a better place. He supported the aging by volunteering as a Long-Term Care Ombudsman in Solano County, and supported youth by volunteering weekly at Robert Semple Elementary School in Benicia, where he was fondly known as “Taco Jim.” Jim was an avid golfer. He was a member of the Le Moyne College men’s golf team and was fortunate to play some of the best golf courses in the world, including St. Andrews in Scotland. Jim enjoyed attending professional golf tournaments including many US Opens and the Masters, and his grandson’s amateur golf tournaments. He participated in Pro-Ams at Silverado & Rancho Murrieta. Jim was a prolific reader, and great storyteller, having written and published three books, two of which provided stories of his upbringing in Upstate New York (“Gof Skool,” and “April’s Tree”), and one that was filled with inspiring quotes (“Play your Cards Right”), which his family jokingly referred to as “Jim-isms.” Jim and his wife, Marcelline, enjoyed travelling, taking road trips around the country, and international trips with friends. Both he and Marcelline are enthusiastic Bay Area sports fans and were inaugural season -ticket holders at then Pacific Bell Park. Jim has been an amazing father to his three children, and proud of his four grandchildren’s accomplishments, both academic and athletic. Jim is survived by his wife Marcelline; son James V., Jr. (Marina del Rey, CA); daughters Maureen Mahern (Tony) McIntosh (Benicia, CA) and Bridget Mahern (Michael) Cornell (Incline Village, NV); sister-in-law Marilyn Maher (Vallejo, CA) and his grandchildren Jackie and Tori McIntosh and Mitchell and Matthew Cornell. Jim’s family would like to thank all of Jim’s doctors, as well as the caregivers at Sutter Solano Medical Center and Sutter Health Care at Home. Jim was loved by all who knew him. He will be best remembered for his kindness and generosity. If you ever met him, he became your friend, or your second dad. Visitation for family and friends will be held from 4:00 – 7:00 PM Thursday, August 13, 2020 at Passalacqua Funeral Chapel (901 W. Second Street, Benicia, CA). Masks and social distancing are required. Brief visits are encouraged, with a limited number of visitors at one time. Funeral services will be private. In lieu of flowers the family prefers donations to Robert Semple Parent Teacher Group (PTG) (via Venmo: Robert Semple Elementary Benicia @Robert-Semple-PTG, or via check: made out to “Robert Semple PTG,” 2015 East Third Street, Benicia, CA 94510), and “The V Foundation” (www.v.org), to support cancer research.