James David Robillard

James David Robillard

(1926-2026)

Jim was a man of great faith who served the Lord all the days of his life. He was born in Los Angeles to his caring and devoted parents, Margaret and David Robillard. Jim also had an older sister, Mary Margaret.

Jim died peacefully at home in Ventura, California at the age of 100. Just five days before joining the Good Lord in Paradise, he celebrated his 100th birthday with family, friends, mariachis and great Mexican food.

As a youngster during the Great Depression, in order to help feed his family, Jim gleaned beans from a field next to their family home. At the age of six, he and his sister would go door-to-door selling homemade potholders. He hand-carved the wooden hooks in the shape of cats to go along with his sister’s handicrafts. When Jim turned ten, he got his first real job selling newspapers from a wooden box on the street corner where street cars used to pass by. The newspapers cost five cents and he earned three cents per paper. It cost ten cents to go to the movies then, which he loved.

As a teenager Jim worked for Safeway. He would get up at 5:00 AM, ride in the back of a produce truck to the Farmer's Market in Los Angeles and load boxes of fresh vegetables and fruit. Back at the store he trimmed vegetables, waxed apples, and stacked displays. At the end of the day he was allowed to take home unsold produce and a little meat. Once a week he was proud to bring home a beer for his dad as a special gift.

In 1941, Jim had a job pumping gas. In those days there was a glass tank with a hand pump. You pumped the gas up to the quantity the patron wanted, then placed the hose in the car. Gravity would take care of the rest. That is what he was doing when he heard Pearl Harbor had been bombed.

Another job Jim had in high school was as a pressman for the LA Daily News. He had powerful arms as a result. With all of his hard work, Jim was able to buy a 1923 Model T, then later a 1925 Model A. He loved cars! Jim bragged that his one and only ticket was in high school when his car broke an axle and he had to push it to the curb and leave it overnight in the red zone. He appeared in court wearing ripped white cords which embarrassed him, told a sad tale to the judge, and the ticket was dismissed.

Jim continued to help out his family, buy his own clothes, and paid his own tuition to Cathedral High School. There he played basketball, baseball, football and volleyball. His love of sports continued throughout his life, and his favorite team was the Dodgers

Jim was an ardent Catholic. At the beginning of his senior year of high school he joined the Christian Brothers and spent many years in northern California surrounded by vineyards and his community of Brothers. He educated young boys and modeled Christian values. Jim’s religious name was Brother Girard.

From 1954-1960 Jim served as the director of the Junior Scholasticate at Mount La Salle. He supervised the building of a chapel with modern stained glass windows.The windows were imported from France and featured young saints. In 1961 Jim was assigned to Cathedral High School in bustling LA near Chinatown. He was in charge of a community of teachers and students. This included building a new high school and a chapel with the first known altar in Los Angeles facing the congregation. Jim was in charge of the spiritual, emotional, physical and financial welfare of the Brothers under his supervision. He was greatly respected and loved, and they appreciated having a beer keg in the fridge and wine on Sundays.

In 1966 Jim was sent to Chicago for a sabbatical. After a few months there, he decided to leave the Christian Brothers. Shortly after that he married his beloved Anne and embraced his new vocation of husband and father to Peter and Susan. Jim, Anne and the family enjoyed camping, traveling, and spending holidays in the family cabin Jim had built with his own hands in Big Bear. When Anne became ill with cancer, Jim dedicated every moment to administering to her needs. Their love was deep and lasted forty years. Two years after Anne’s death, Jim married Barbara Libby, embracing her sons John and Joe as his own. Jim and Barbara traveled the world fulfilling lifelong dreams. They shared kindred spirits, much laughter, and were wonderful companions for over twenty years.

Jim’s relationship with The Lord was primary in his life. He attended daily Mass and was very active in the St. Vincent de Paul Society in Camarillo. Moving to Ventura in 2006, Jim served at Our Lady of the Assumption as Eucharistic Minister, Sacristan, and Sponsor, ushering in new members through RCIA.

Feeling blessed each and every day of his life, Jim savored the beauty of every day little joys and the sweet people in his life, especially his lovely daughter Susan and his devoted son Peter. He also found great delight in his grandchildren Zach and Allie. The family is grateful for Jim and Barbara’s kind neighbors: Jason and Robin; Mike, Bridget and Aaron; Lily and Gayle. They extend many thanks also to OLA’s priests, deacons, and the 8:00 Mass participants who were especially attentive in the last days of Jim’s life.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, his sister, two nephews and the “Light of his Life”, Anne.

We who knew Jim will carry him in our hearts until we meet again. In lieu of flowers, please give a donation to FoodShare, The St. Vincent de Paul Society or Cathedral High School in Los Angeles.

During Jim’s last few years on earth, his feet were firmly on the ground as he lived the virtues of humility, charity, and faith. He reminded all who knew him that in every moment we are in the Holy Presence of God. In Jim’s final days he said, “All my life everything I’ve done has been for the love of God. Now I’m aware of His love for me.”

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated for Jim on Saturday, February 7 at 11:00 AM at Our Lady of the Assumption, 3175 Telegraph Road, Ventura, California 93003.