Son of the late James and Edith Maude McConnell, died at home in Toronto on February 27, 1998.
He was born in London, ONT on July 25th, 1912. He is survived by his loving children, Malcolm and his wife Dawn, Mary and John of San Diego, and was the proud and loving grandfather of Meaghan, Chelsea and Chloe Rose. He is also survived by his sisters Ruth Fordyce and Mary Woods, and by his former wife Priscilla Pritchard; and was predeceased by two sisters Margaret Porteous and Dorothy Woods.
He was educated at Ridley College and the University of Western ONT, from which he graduated with a B.A. Degree in Business Administration in 1936. He then joined his father’s advertising company, McConnell Eastman, which was founded in 1903. In 1945, he was appointed Manager of the Montreal office, in 1950 he became Manager of the Toronto office and Managing Director of the Company, and three years later he was elected President and Chairman of the Board. Under his leadership the Agency expanded to become one of the largest advertising agencies in Canada.
In 1962 he was elected President of the Canadian Association of Advertising Agencies. During World War II, he served with the Canadian Army and retired with the rank of Captain. Jim served on many Boards including: Union Acceptance Corp., Great Northern Gas Utilities (Operations) Limited, Great Northern Capital Corp. Ltd., Canerina Petroleum Corp. and Bureau of Municipal Research.
He took an active role as Chairman of the Board of Central Neighborhood House, a Board member of the Sick Children’s Hospital and Chairman of the Board of Governors of Ridley College. He was active in many clubs, and loved hunting, fishing, golfing, swimming and skiing. He was a founding member in Toronto and at one time head of both the Commanderie de Bordeaux and the Confrerie des Chevaliers du Tastevin.
Friends may call at the MORLEY BEDFORD FUNERAL HOME, 159 Eglinton Avenue West (at Lascelles Blvd.) on Monday from 2-4 and 7-9 P.M. Funeral service will be held at St. John’s Anglican Church York Mills, 19 Don Ridge Drive on Tuesday 12 o’clock noon. If desired, a memorial contribution may be made to Central Neighborhood House, 349 ONT Street, Toronto, M5A 2V8.