Jim passed away at the Royal Jubilee Hospital on March 26, 2015 after a brief illness. He leaves behind his beloved step children Cary, Gary and Colleen McGinnis, grandchildren Kevin and Amber McGinnis and Kelsey Williams and great-grandchildren Davin Monyard, Bella Langerack and Minna Williams all of Victoria.
Jim was born in Victoria, September 19, 1941 to Agnes (Nesbitt) and John Mitchell Cullingford, the eldest of five children, John Cullingford, (Surrey), Pat Bratz (Calgary), Laurie Kaltio (Sechelt) and Frances Engst (Half Moon Bay).
As a young man he pursued his passion, earning his private pilot’s license in a short three months with the assistance of his instructor, Gordon Jeune.
He later found a career in the ambulance business working for his close friend Neil Leard, owner of Garden City Ambulance, now BC Ambulance Service. The two of them could often be found with friends at the Cherry Bank Hotel.
He was a collector of classic cars and a member of the Cadillac Club of BC and the Vintage Car Club of Canada, Victoria Chapter.
He was a great father, the family historian, a best friend to many. He lived a full and happy life and he lived it his way.
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Bros. Funeral Home
www.mccallbros.com
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Jerry Jasper
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John Cullingford Our dear brother Jim was taken suddenly and far too soon.
He loved his children and talked about them often.
Jimmy was the family historian like his uncle James Nesbitt and kept many family photos and records going back to the 1860s.
His pets Reggie and Bob are in good hands with his youngest sister Frances.
We miss him greatly and will miss his sense of humor and caring nature.
Jimmy will definitely be remembered as one of the good guys………..
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Tina Martin I’m so sorry for your loss. Jim was such a caring and thoughtful human being. He welcomed hordes of us into his home and his life, and at no small expense. He would take us to Nanaimo to spend the day at the river, he would supply us with endless amounts of food. He was always there for Cary, Gary, and Colleen. I can’t really remember a time that he ever got really cross with any of us. My memories are deep and everlasting of this man and he won’t be forgotten by the people that he touched, which were many.
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Harold Corbin I’m very sorry to hear of James’s passing. My sincere condolences to you all. I met Jim many years back in the aquacize pool at the Grand Pacific and became social friends with him and others there. We use to go out to dine around and he’d often pick me up in his great car (along with the dog) and off we’d go. He showed me a home in Fairfield where he grew up and drove me around ‘his’ Victoria. I loved his home up on Pandora; especially around Christmas when he put out his wonderful collection of Nut Crackers. I hadn’t ‘talked’ to him for many months now but often wondered how he was doing. Now I know. I will miss Jim. Thank You. Sincerely, Harold Corbin
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Carol Fyfe-Wilson nee Grant Jimmy’s smile lite up many a girl’s life. He was the CYO dance floor heart throb-what a smooth dancer!
I wished I had known him better but such is life.
My sincere sympathy to all his family.
Carol
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Dorothy Leard Pearce Brian and I were so sorry today to read of Jim’s passing. He has been a friend since high school and a best friend to my brother Neil. Jim was with us the night Neil died and every year since on that date we all get together for dinner and stories from the past so this year in June we will be remembering Jim as well and our memories of him. If there is to be a service of any kind we would really like to be there and would appreciate it if you would let us know about it. One way back memory I have of Jim is that he was the first boy I danced with at my first school dance in grade 9. There are so many other memories from the days he and Neil managed to somehow stay out of too much trouble or maybe there was trouble we never heard about…that’s far more likely. Dorothy Pearce
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Lynne Leard So many memories of JP over the years. He was a good and loyal friend. SIncere condolences to Jim’s family.
Lynne Leard
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Anne & Vic Bley We are so sorry to hear of Jim’s passing. He will be missed.
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Mark and Michael Hawkes So sorry to hear of JP’s sudden passing. My brother Michael and are great-great-grandsons of Samuel Nesbitt Sr. and Jane Anne Saunders–JP’s great-great-grandparents. As part of a decades-long process of piecing together our family history, we were delighted when we tracked JP down just last year and got together to hear his many fascinating stories. He shed light on several mysteries that we had been trying to solve, showed us pictures of our common ancestors that we had never seen before, and provided us with copies of interesting documents. His apartment was like a miniature Archives, packed to over-flowing with his books and papers.
We had planned to visit him again soon to take pictures of his photos and other memorabilia, and search for other historical revelations hidden in his trove. Little did we know that opportunity would never come. We wish we could have gotten to know JP better, but we are very glad that at least we met him when we did.
If any family members would like to contact us regarding family history and artifacts, we would love to hear from them. Please call: 250-882-1207
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Dolores Stevens (V.C.C.C., Victoria Chapter) We wish to offer condolences to Jim’s family on their loss.
Jim, as a member of our car club, was a valued, active
participant in his own quiet way. He was well liked, and
will be missed.Vintage Car Club of Canada, Victoria Chapter
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Jerry and Nancy We bought and moved next door to Jim some forty one years ago. Our house needed a new foundation and lots of work and It turned out that the best part of the deal was a life-long neighbour. Jim became a friend – thoughtful, watchful, and generous with his time, especially when we were away. Our life has been enriched by his many interests, probably the greatest of which was Victoria’s local history, a passion he inherited legitimately from his uncle, author and columnist James K. Nesbitt. Regularly we were invited in to see Jim’s latest find of Victoria memorabilia, art, vintage clock, tube radio or piece of furniture. Frequently the find would cultivate conversation about some past story, person or event, some repeatable, some not.
Then there were his other loves, an unlikely combination of orphaned critters and classic cars. A dog or cat adopted by Jim had won the animal lottery of devoted care, grooming and affection. In our shared driveway we often returned home to see his classic Caddie, Chev, or Dodge or other beauties owned by fellow enthusiasts. We write this in great sadness Jim, but we’re thankful your illness was short and not belaboured by months or years in an institutional setting which we know was not your style.
Farewell friend and neighbour.
Nancy and Jerry
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Debra berg Jim was a great father and provided a safe place for his kids and their friends to hang out while they all grew up together. I myself was not in that group but my three younger brothers Doug, Brian and Kevin Berg have many great memories of hanging out at Jim’s place. Jim was always welcomed and visited our parents Vi and Palmer Berg often. He bought my parents ’69 Chev Belair, fixed it up and would bring it over for my mom to see it. That always made them smile. Thank you Jim RIP
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Andrew Britton I enjoyed working with JP when he was doing the Island transfers. He showed me many back roads of the island. He cared about all his patients and loved his job. JP was a unique person and cannot be replaced. RIP my friend you are in good hands screaming through the clouds with your friends. Thank you for your experience when I was just a young paramedic, teaching me the importance that every patient deserves the best care.
Sorry to heir that J.P passed away he will be missed