On Saturday, September 25, Jim Watterson-- Patron of the Arts, Civic Volunteer, & Friend of the Museum -- will join the elite group of men and women who have been honored by Pasadena Museum of History as "Contemporary History Makers" since the award was inaugurated in 2000. A Contemporary History Maker is defined as an individual whose civic passion, innovative design, or charitable interests continue to shape Pasadena's unique and rich heritage. |
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 James R. Watterson was born in Seattle, Washington, and attended Grinnell College, Grinnell, Iowa prior to graduating with a B.A. degree in Radio-TV from the University of Washington. He migrated to Los Angeles in 1964, when he was named Director of Advertising and Sales Promotion for FRANCISCAN TILE AND CHINA.
Jim joined THE MAY DEPARTMENT STORES COMPANY in 1977. He was Vice President, Public Relations and Special Events for ROBINSONS-MAY, until he retired in l998 after 21 years of service. During Jim’s tenure at MAY CO and ROBINSONS-MAY, he created the following community outreach campaigns: The Downtown Women’s Center Walkathon; ”Recipes for Living” for the American Cancer Society; “It’s Cool To Stay in School” for Education Plus; The Memory Walk for Alzheimer’s Association; “One Smart Cookie” (with Mrs. Field’s Cookies) for the Los Angeles Public Library; the Posada & Chalk On The Walk for the AIDS Service Center; Revlon Run/Walk for Women – Original Platinum Sponsor; Operation USA Toy Drive with Julie Andrews; Aladdin’s Wish Fulfillment with Barbara Eden - & Dorothy Hamill for Make A Wish Foundation; Prostate Cancer Screening for USC Norris with Jack Lemmon & Edward James Olmos; “Read America, Win America” with Jimmy Stewart; and American Ballet Theatre seasons with Mikhail Baryshnikov, among others.
As a volunteer, he has chaired over 50 community benefit events in Los Angeles and Pasadena including benefits for: Friends of The Joffrey Ballet, AIDS Project Los Angeles, All Saints Church, Armory Center for the Arts, Pasadena Playhouse, Pasadena Symphony, International Housewares Show, Color Marketing Group, FIDM, The Fashion Group International, The Fashion Group LA, Descanso Gardens, Pasadena Dance Theatre, LACMA Costume Council and Art Center College of Design.
 Jim is currently a member of the following boards: Pasadena Playhouse, Pasadena Symphony, LACMA Costume Council and Pasadena Dance Theatre (former President). He formerly served on the following boards: American Cancer Society (Volunteer of the Year), Armory Center for the Arts, Whittier College (trustee), AIDS Service Center, Shakespeare Festival, Friends of The Joffrey Ballet, Young & Healthy, ARTS Inc, Children’s Burn Foundation; The Levitt Pavilion; Museum of California Design, Center Theatre Group Corporate Circle and the Vestry of All Saints Church, Pasadena.
In addition to Pasadena Museum of History, he is also a member of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, MOCA, Huntington Library, Museum of Latin American Art, Descanso Gardens Guild, and Arboretum of Los Angeles County. He is one of seven founding male affiliate members of The Fashion Group International, New York.
He has produced hundreds of fashion shows, among them: for APLA, honoring: Geoffrey Beene, Bob Mackie, Gianni Versace, Isaac Mizrahi, Todd Oldham, Calvin Klein, GianFranco Ferre, Thierry Mugler and” The Hollywood Costume Retrospective;” five Pret A Porter Shows for THE FASHION GROUP INTERNATIONAL, New York; and 28 shows for FIDM - from 1986 to the present – along with shows and benefits for many other organizations, companies and designers.
Jim and George Martin, his partner of 30+ years, own homes in Pasadena and in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico; their Mexican home is on the cover and is featured in Rizzoli’s book Casa San Miguel, published in 2008.
Pasadena Museum of History is pleased to acknowledge the participation & support of the following people:
Honorary Committee
Susan Caldwell, Co-chair
George Martin, Co-chair
Peggy Phelps, Co-chair
Hope Hendricks-Bacon and Ed Bacon
Claire & Bill Bogaard
Ted Clark
Christopher Davidson
Faye & Robert Davidson
Nancy Neal Davis
Veronica & Robert Egelston
Patti Johns Eisenberg
Jim Fielding
Brenda & William Galloway
Elizabeth & Peter Goulds
Sheila Grether-Marion &
Mark Marion
Toni Hohberg
Harold Huttas
Jean Watterson Johnson
Jane Kaczmarek
Ellen & Harvey Knell
Betty Leonard
Shelly & Dennis Lowe
Clara & Jacob Maarse
Carol & Doug Mancino
Milinda Martin
Sarah & Eric Miller
Sharon & Samuel Muir
Wendy Munger &
Leonard Gumport
Kathy & Bob Ray Offenhauser
Jane & Ron Olson
Diane Reed &
Sam Nicholson
Mary & George Regas
John Roberts, Ph.D.
Joni Smith
Nicole & Kent Sokolow
Lyn Spector
Gail Watterson Tastula
Sheila Tepper
Betsey & Sid Tyler
Jonathan Weedman &
Raymundo Baltazar
Alyce & Warren Williamson
Matthew White &
Thomas Schumacher
Gala Committee
Patrick Conyers, Ph.D., Co-chair
Wendy Funkhouser, Co-chair
Chuck Livingstone, Co-chair
Laura Thompson, Co-chair
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Sponsors & Patrons
Chartreuse Sponsors
Karen & Steve Craig
Magenta Sponsors
Z. Clark Branson
Lagerlof, Senecal, Gosney & Kruse LLP
Coral Patrons
Stephen Acker & Debbie Jones
Jack & Joan Bonholtzer
Susan & John Caldwell
Robin Colman & Cheryl Bode
Steven & Helen Kerstein
Diane & Craig Martin
Judy & Steve McDonald
Bingo & Gino Roncelli
Catherine "Tink" Cheney & Barry Jones
Jane Kaczmarek
Shelly & Dennis Lowe
Peggy Phelps
Rary Simmons
Saffron Patrons
Jim & Penny Plotkin
Shirley Wilson
Katie & Stephen Ching
Dianne M. Magee
Arthur McDermott & James White
Joni J. Smith
Andrea & John Van de Kamp
Robert Winter
Marge Wyatt
Reflects gifts given as of 7.27.10
If you are interested in being a gala sponsor or patron, please contact our Development Office. |
Contemporary History Makers 2000 - 2009
2009
Larry Mantle
Denise Nelson Nash
Sid & Betsey Tyler
2008
Christle Balvin
Charles & Betty McKenney
Joel Sheldon,III
Larry Wilson
2007
Ann Hassett & Bob Niemack
Harvey & Ellen Knell
Phil & Sally Swan
Ian & Regina Whitcomb
2006
Ann & André Chaves
Brenda & Bill Galloway
2005
Bob Ray Offenhauser
2004
NASA/JPL’s Mars Exploration Team
2003
Claire W. Bogaard
Gene A. Buchanan
Marilyn Dee Buchanan
Don F. McIntrye
Dan L. Mellinkoff
Larry B. Morrison
Sue N. Mossman
James R. Plotkin
Marsha V. Rood
John P. Wilson
2002
David Baltimore, Ph.D.
George Ellery Hale*
William Pickering, Ph.D.*
Maxine D. Singer, Ph.D.
2001
Iwan Serrurier*
Mark Serrurier*
2000
Harry Usher*
*deceased
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