James Fishback Boreham, 85, passed away on Sunday, Sept. 20 at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena following a brief illness.

The youngest of three brothers, Jim was born to Roland and Anita Boreham on an extended business trip in Ohio. Soon afterwards, the family moved back to their home in Beverly Hills. After graduating from Beverly Hills High School in 1948, he attended USC, where he met his future wife Helen. He joined the Navy in 1950 and served in the Korean War. While on leave in 1952, Jim and Helen married. Back at sea, Jim got the exciting news that he was going to be a father. He met his son, Greg, at age 6 months after returning from Korea.

Following his four-year stint in the Navy, Jim finished his electrical engineering degree at UCLA and was promptly hired by JPL when space exploration was in its infancy. One of his early projects at JPL was designing and building the high gain antennas that transmitted the first photos of the moon and Mars. Jim also helped with advanced planning for the Voyager Mission to the outer planets and supervised RF component advanced development. He retired from JPL in 1985.

Jim and Helen had two daughters following the birth of their son. They bought their first home in Tujunga, moved to La Crescenta where the children attended school and eventually on to La Cañada. They were known to have a passion for animals and often brought home stray dogs.

Jim and Helen enjoyed overseas travel and time at their Lake Arrowhead home. Jim was also an avid golfer and belonged to Oakmont Country Club and Lake Arrowhead Country Club. He was also a member of Seafarers at La Cañada Presbyterian Church.

Jim survived his wife, Helen, who passed away in 2006. They were married 54 years. He leaves behind his son Greg Boreham and his wife Nancy Fairchild; his daughter Linda Yaussi and her husband Paul Yaussi; daughter Carrie Grochow and her husband Tim Grochow; 10 grandchildren, four great grandchildren and many close friends.

Jim taught his children and grandchildren the value of charity. Some of his favorite philanthropies included the Pasadena Humane Society, Los Altos Auxiliary and Union Station, Pasadena.

A memorial service celebrating his life will be on Nov. 21 at 11:30 a.m. at La Cañada Presbyterian Church, 626 Foothill Blvd., with a reception to follow in Fellowship Hall.