Jim de Boom, longtime community activist, dies at 74
Jim de Boom, recently retired from more than 40 years of community service, died Monday at age 74. The cause of death was brain seizures, according to his daughter Stacy de Boom-Howard.
“Jim was always there for the community,” said Joel Carlson, past president of the Kiwanis Club of Newport Beach/Corona del Mar. “His love for service and our area was evident. Jim will be sorely missed.”
De Boom was honored twice early this year.
On Jan. 16, the Newport Balboa Rotary Club recognized him as a Lifetime Honorary Rotarian, placing him in a select group of Rotarians renowned for their meritorious service in furthering Rotary ideals.
A week later, the Newport-Mesa-Irvine Interfaith Council recognized him for more than 40 years of service to interfaith, Rotary and other service organizations.
De Boom joined the Rotary Club of Newport-Balboa in 1975. He served on almost every club committee and as president, and he earned every club award including Rotarian of the Year. De Boom also served at Rotary’s district level on various committees, as district governor from 1997 to 1998 and thereafter as district administrator.
“He made everything easy for all of us … a bigger-than-life guy,” Greg and Valerie Owen, who worked with de Boom in Rotary District 5320, said in a statement Tuesday. “We can all celebrate the life of a wonderful Rotarian, husband, father and all around good friend for all that were fortunate enough to know him.”
For more than 20 years, de Boom was executive director of the Interfaith Council, which is made up of representatives of various religions dedicated to building a community honoring its many voices. No role was too small or large for de Boom. He served in a secretarial capacity, including updating and selling ads in the directory and creating agendas and brochures for meetings and events. He also recruited speakers, organized events and handled public relations.
De Boom was born Oct. 7, 1941, in St. Louis Park, Minn., where he also was raised. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree from George Williams College in Chicago. He later earned a master’s degree in counseling from USC. He was licensed as a marriage, family and child counselor.
De Boom dedicated his career to community service. In 1965, he joined the YMCA in Los Angeles and worked his way to executive director in Orange County. In the early 1980s, he left the YMCA and started an event planning business. De Boom organized popular community events. Many benefited service clubs and nonprofit organizations, including Taste of Newport, Taste of Orange and the Daily Pilot Community & Clubs Hall of Fame luncheon.
“Every time you turned around, Jim was doing something and donating money into nonprofit organizations including the YMCA, the Rotary, Interfaith Council and Exploring.” said Lane Calvert, current Interfaith Council president and longtime community service leader. “No one was better in the events planning business. Jim knew how to plan an event and who to bring to the table, public relations-wise and money-wise. He was an incredible person to have on the team.”
De Boom’s primary focus was helping children. From 1983 to 1996, he was a member of the Newport-Mesa Unified School District board, serving two terms as president. De Boom was active in Explorers Orange County, an organization that provides young adults with real-world experience and leadership development in police, fire and hospital careers.
His Newport Balboa Rotary work benefited children. For example, he organized outings of Rotary members and special-needs children to the mountains, harbor and elsewhere.
In the early 1990s, de Boom began writing for the Daily Pilot. With his tremendous connections throughout Newport-Mesa and Irvine, the Pilot chose him to write its Community & Clubs column. This gave de Boom a platform to honor the work of his community service colleagues and their beneficiaries.
“Jim deeply believes in honoring veterans, funding Police Explorer programs and giving opportunities to young people who may not otherwise get them,” said Daily Pilot Executive Editor John Canalis. “Jim is not just passionate about our area service clubs, but he’s passionate and engaged in the actual services they provide.”
In 2009, to honor the community service clubs, de Boom and the Pilot staff created the Daily Pilot Community & Clubs Hall of Fame. Each spring, the Pilot invites service clubs, community organizations and religious congregations to nominate members for exceptional service to youth, the community and their respective organizations. The Pilot honors the nominees in June at a luncheon at the Newport Beach American Legion Post 291. The event unites the service organizations, and its net proceeds benefit Explorers.
“Jim was always the person in the know,” said Tom Johnson, former Daily Pilot publisher. “He was a great resource for stories and had great insights.”
In the words of Culvert: “Jim made a better world for kids. There is no one else like him. He is my mentor.”
A celebration of de Boom’s life is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 30 at Harborside Restaurant in the Balboa Pavilion, 400 Main St., Newport Beach.
Donations in his honor can be made to The Rotary Foundation, noting de Boom’s name and mailed to the Rotary Club of Newport-Balboa, P.O. Box 1944, Newport Beach, CA 92659. The donations will be designated for Rotary’s End Polio Now, which was important to him, as both his parents and brother had polio, de Boom-Howard said.