Jim Castañeda Amores, beloved husband, father, brother, tito, lolo, and friend, passed away on September 4, 2026, at Stanford Hospital at the age of 72.

The youngest of four children, Jim was born and raised in Manila, Philippines. In 1975, Jim graduated from the University of the East with a degree in Civil Engineering and began his career with the Construction Development Corporation of the Philippines.

He immigrated to the United States in 1985, spending a brief time in New York before making his permanent home in the Bay Area. Jim married his beloved wife, Chona Amores, on March 15, 1986. Together, they built a home in Palo Alto and raised their son, Jonathan. Over their 40 years of marriage, Jim loved traveling with his family on many memorable international trips, with Japan as his favorite destination.

Jim served for 32 years as a civil engineer for the City of Palo Alto Public Works Department. During his tenure, he oversaw the replacement of over 100 miles of sidewalk and mentored many young engineers entering the field. Upon his retirement in 2019, the Palo Alto City Council presented him with a formal Resolution expressing deep appreciation for his decades of service and dedication to the community.

Above all, Jim loved his family deeply. He found immense joy in caring for his family's many grandchildren, who affectionately called him 'Lo Jim.' He was fondly known for his impressive collections of superhero action figures and golf balls, and he remained an ardent fan of Bay Area sports and 1960s and '70s folk rock throughout his life.

Jim is survived by his wife, Chona, and son, Jonathan, in California, as well as his brother, Ray, and sister, Lyn, in the Philippines.

A video viewing link is available for those unable to attend the viewing and/or memorial service in person: https://evt.live/jim-amores-celebration-of-life-2026