James Bernard Leary, devoted Husband, Father, Grandfather, Great Grandfather and Great-Great Grandfather died at North Bay Vaca Valley Hospital on August 20, 2026. He was 99 years old.

Jim was born to Thomas Raymond Leary and Ruby Edna (Brock) Leary on December 1, 1926, in Swalwell, a small town in Alberta, Canada. He grew up in various towns in Canada. At a young age he discovered a love for math. When he was in 9th grade, a friend’s father planted the idea of becoming a Chemical Engineer. He graduated from North Dakota State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry in June 1949. He then went on to get his master’s degree.

It was in Fargo that he met his wife Doris, and they were married on August 18, 1951. After a short stay in Lafayette, Indiana where Jim was attending Purdue University, he took a job for Eli Lilly Company. They moved to Indianapolis and started a family. They lived in Indianapolis with their six children until 1965, when they moved to Pinole, California. Jim worked for Chevron Chemical Company as a research chemist where he worked for 20 years before retiring in 1985.

Jim was an active member and volunteer at Saint Joseph’s Catholic Church in Pinole. He was very involved at the food bank in Richmond and volunteered many hours doing respite care. He and his wife enjoyed traveling and some of the many places they went were Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Ireland, Japan and China.

He was an accomplished violinist as well as a pianist. His family always enjoyed listening to him play the violin on birthdays, holidays and other family events. Jim enjoyed taking his family camping to National Parks and visiting the Missions in California. He owned a C-Dory and enjoyed taking family and friends fishing out on the bay. He and Doris were stellar bridge players enjoying the game with many friends. Jim enjoyed working on family genealogy, was an avid reader, and wrote his memoirs.

Jim is preceded in death by his dear wife Doris, his eldest son Tom, two great-granddaughters, Sophia Torres and Lexi Richmond and grandson-in-law Rick Rubacalva. He is survived by his other five children: Patti and Bob Stutte of Rocklin, Terry and Bob McGrath of Auburn, Mike and Karrie Leary of Vacaville, Dan Leary of Vacaville and Tim Leary of Woodland. He is survived by 15 grandchildren, 31 great-grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild.

Jim will be dearly missed by all his family. The funeral mass will be on Tuesday, September 1st at 11:00 am at Saint Joseph’s Catholic Church, 1791 Marshall Road in Vacaville with the burial immediately following at 12:30 at the Vacaville Elmira Cemetery. A reception will follow.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you donate to your favorite charity.