It is with a heavy heart that we announce that James Russell Stanclift also known as Jim, age 84, of San Jose, California passed away on June 4th, 2026. He quietly had been living with Parkinson’s Disease for about 10 years.

Jim was born on January 8th, 1942 in Taft California to Paul and Helen Stanclift. For the first few years of his life, Jim lived in Taft with his older brother Willam and younger sister Karen and his parents. The family moved to Merced to take over the family almond ranch in 1946. He grew up in Merced, California where he attended Merced Union High School and spent many hours helping his dad with the almond orchards and almond hulling business. Jim had fond memories of working along his father and learning may hands on skills.

He went on to pursue Higher Education, earning a Bachelor of Science in Engineering in 1965 and a Bachelor of Architecture in 1966 from California State Polytechnic College in San Luis Obispo. Jim was a curious learner and did continue his education with classes in art history, accounting, electronics, computer programing, and technical writing. His personal library of books contained many interests, things like pipe organ construction and houseplant care.

Jim spent much of his career working as an Architect at numerous architecture firms in California and Hawaii, most recently at William Maston Architect and Associates as a Project Architect. For a few years, in the 1990’s he owned and operated his own beverage syrup business, increasing its sales and its customer service area. Outside of work, he enjoyed international travel, faceting gemstones, managing his own stock portfolio, and yoga. Friends and family remember him for his dry wit, dedication to family and spending holidays working on jigsaw puzzles. He designed a unique gemstone cut and held a patten for a door threshold system.

Jim is survived by numerous cousins, his niece, Krista Salenro, his nephew, Paul Carlson, his grandnieces, Karina Salerno and Elise Salerno, and his grandnephews Brandon Carlson, Kasey Carlson, and Trevor Carlson. He was preceded in death by his parents, Paul and Helen Stanclift, his brother William Stanclift and his beloved sister Karen Carlson.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. Contributions may be made online at https://www.michaeljfox.org/