James Vernon McNamara
James Vernon McNamara born on March 19, 1934 at Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara, California passed away peacefully on January 25, 2025. A beloved physician, husband and father, Dr. Mac, as his patients and colleagues sometimes called him, was a lifelong resident of Santa Barbara. Following in the footsteps of his parents he served his patients and the community at Sansum Clinic for 45 years and held several leadership positions at Cottage Hospital, The California Medical Association and Laguna Blanca School. Admired for his diagnostic acumen as well as his big heart and attention to the details of his patients’ care, he is remembered by his five children, eight grandchildren and loving wife of 37 years for his sometimes wicked sense of humor, keen intelligence, and love of music, art, beauty and the outdoors.
Following graduation from Laguna Blanca School in 1952 Jim attended La Sierra College and then Loma Linda Medical School. He met and married Sylvia Jean Randall in 1960 and they immediately departed Los Angeles for Honolulu, HI where Jim was to begin his residency and service in the US Army Medical Corps. Jim and Sylvia and their growing family (Patrick, Erin and Moira) lived in Tacoma WA, Silver Spring MD and Joliet IL before returning to Santa Barbara where Jim joined Sansum in 1969. A highlight of Jim’s military service included leading a team conducting malaria research at Stateville Penitentiary and then traveling to Tehran, Iran to present the research.
Following his divorce from Sylvia, Jim met Christine Lewis at Sansum, and they married in 1987. Chris brought light and love into his life — as well as two more children (Elizabeth and Michael). Jim and Chris worked as a team to support all of their children, including family ski trips, summer trips to Yosemite and Jim’s beloved Sierra. In later years they travelled the world on several cruises including their last adventure around Tierra del Fuego.
Ghandi once said, “Where there’s love there’s life.” Nothing could be more true about Jim. He loved fiercely and you could feel that in every aspect of his life. He was passionate about his patients his family and skiing. Jim loved living in Santa Barbara and supported many local causes. In 2014 he and Chris established the McNamara Fund for Professional Enrichment and Education to support Sansum employees pursuing additional education and professional development. An annual men’s ski trip was an anticipated highlight every year, and he made sure that all of his children became good skiers. He will be lovingly remembered for his steadfast support of his family, patients and community as well as his kind and generous heart, competitive spirit and belief in the power of education to improve lives.
Jim is survived by Chris, his wife of 37 years, his five children and eight grandchildren. Jim was predeceased by his sister Patricia McNamara Chatfield. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the McNamara Fund for Professional Enrichment and Education at the Sansum Medical Foundation.
May his memory be a blessing.
The service will be held Friday February 14, 2025 at 1:15 pm at the Santa Barbara Cemetery.