Lasting Memories

James Wilson Morrell
Feb. 13, 1931-Feb. 28, 2017
Atherton, California
Submitted by Marylyn Morrell

James Wilson Morrell passed away suddenly on February 28, 2017, at the age of 86. He was the beloved husband of Marylyn Morrell for 64 years, as well as the beloved father of Martha Morrell and David Morrell, grandfather of Emily Trinkaus Carson, Sam and Madeline Trinkaus, and of Teo and Elias Morrell, father-in law of Peter Trinkaus (deceased), Kirsten Silva Gruesz and Jaime Tenedorio, and of his grandsons-in-law Daniel and Ted Tenedorio, and Zachary Carson.

Jim had a full life surrounded by those he loved and who loved him. He was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan to Evelyn and Wilson Morrell, lived in Detroit during World War II, and then returned to Kalamazoo in High School.

His teenage years were characterized by academic success and hard work. Showing his natural leadership gift and an interest in journalism, he was editor of his high school newspaper and a feature reporter for the local Kalamazoo newspaper.

He spent his high school summers performing any number of odd jobs, selling shoes and paint at Montgomery Ward, and delivering potatoes to help his produce broker father, even though he was not old enough to have a driver’s license.

He attended Kalamazoo College on a Journalism scholarship and with not a penny in his pocket. He edited the College newspaper as a sophomore and did play-by-play for sports games on the local Kalamazoo radio station, all while working as a waiter in the school dining room.

In the summers, he worked paving roads in blazing Michigan heat and, another summer, leased several acres of farm land close to Kalamazoo, where he planted and maintained a field of carrots on his own. After laboring through another Michigan summer sun, he was forced to plow his carrots under when there were no buyers due to a carrot glut.

He spotted the love of his life when he was a 19 year old sophomore at Kalamazoo College. He glanced at 17 year old Marylyn at her freshman orientation and that was it, as far as he was concerned.

Jim and Marylyn were married 2 years later. Jim completed college as a History major the following year and was immediately inducted into the Army and sent to Fort Knox, Kentucky.

Whenever he had a 36 hour leave, he spent 16 hours of it driving to and from Kalamazoo to see her. Marylyn took a leave from college 6 months later to join him.

Because he was so bright, a natural leader and such a hard worker, as well as the best typist in his Company, the final 9 months of his 2 year military commitment were spent as an administrative clerk for General Creighton W. Abrams, who was heading a task force to develop the future role of American and Allied Armored Forces.

This was a pivotal experience for Jim. He described General Abrams as an exemplary person and, in his own words, “learned a lot about Duty, Honor and Country.” He said it helped shape his life and values.

Despite the General’s urging, Jim left the military in 1955, intent on a career that would provide for Marylyn and their children to come.

His first job was with Saga Administrative Corporation. He was hired by the founders of Saga, who first encountered Jim when he was a waiter in college.

During his first years at Saga, his children were born. His love for his children was profound. Although he worked much of the time in those early years, his children saw his willingness to get the job, any job, done well. This was a lesson they have taken throughout their lives.

Jim continued to advance in Saga, serving on all levels of line operations, and was relocated to Saga headquarters in Menlo Park, California, in 1966. No surprise, he loved California as well as his house and garden, where he lived with Marylyn for 51 years.

At Saga, he assumed a series of corporate administrative assignments, then as a Division Operating President from 1970 until 1977.

In his final positions with Saga, he served as Executive Vice President, President and Chief Operating Officer, Vice Chairman of the Corporation, Chief Operating Officer and as a member of a three person Office of the President.

In 1986, Saga was acquired by Marriott Corporation. Jim subsequently headed his own consulting organization that specialized in Organization and Personal Strategic Planning, as President and CEO of a company that developed products for the visually impaired and blind (TeleSensory), and as CEO and President of the Saga Foundation, an NGO dealing with the problems of nuclear proliferation and the emergence and needs of undeveloped third world countries.

He was a member of the Board of Directors of the Charles Schwab Trust Company, Simco Electronics, Symphony Medical Corporation, MuffinsMuffins, Foster Farms, Fabri-Kal Corporation, TeleSensory, Connor Formed Metal Products, Ambassador Travel Services, Quartet Record Company and Dining Data Systems. He served as President of Sharon Heights Golf and Country Club.

Jim always believed in giving back to the community. Lucky recipients of this generosity included Kalamazoo College, where he served on the Board of Trustees for 18 years, and the Resource Center for Women, which Marylyn co-founded.

Throughout his adult life, Jim loved to learn about, view and collect art, to attend the opera and ballet, to read, and to listen to classical music and jazz. He especially enjoyed photography and produced an extensive portfolio, with a favorite subject being the flowers in his garden and sunsets at his home in Hawaii.

Athletic pursuits included tennis and golf. His love of sports was shared with his son and they were on top of all the relevant stats, engaging in enthusiastic conversations that seemed like a foreign language to his wife and daughter.

Jim was a member of the Young Presidents’ and World Presidents’ Organizations. Participation in these organizations brought him a number of deep and lifelong friendships, and provided the opportunity to travel much of the world with Marylyn.

Jim led by example. His family, and those who worked with him, admired his unwavering commitment to them, his respect for all, his kindness, his wisdom, his ability to listen without judgment, and his ethics. Jim always did the right thing. Throughout his life, he provided wise and caring counsel to his children, as well as their friends.

Some of Jim’s many attributes were his organizational and planning skills, his beautiful handwriting, his resonant voice, sense of humor, love of beauty, resilience, optimism, cheerfulness, energy, and his smile.

During the last years of his life, Jim worked on his memoirs. Using his skills in photojournalism, he left his family a 10 volume remembrance of his life and the people who had touched it. This is a cherished gift, and provides some solace to those he left behind. He will be sorely missed. The world has lost one of the finest men there has ever been.

In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes contributions in his name to Kalamazoo College, Kalamazoo, Michigan or Peninsula Open Space Trust. The family will hold a memorial service in the future.