James (Jym) Edwin Clendenin, 85, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on November 26, 2024, after a brief illness. He leaves behind a legacy of love, intellect, and service. Born in Paris, Tennessee, on June 10, 1939, James lived a life filled with adventure, learning, and dedication to family and community.
The firstborn son of a military family, James grew up moving throughout the United States, spending most of his youth in southern Virginia. A 1957 graduate of Norview High School in Norfolk, Virginia, James went on to study electrical engineering at the University of Virginia. It was there, in 1960, that he met the love of his life, Judith E. Poole.
Following his graduation, James entered the U.S. Navy as an ensign in 1962, and in December of the same year, he and Judith were married in Arlington, VA. He served honorably and left as a lieutenant in 1966, when he transitioned to pursue his passion for education and discovery. James earned a Master of Religion degree from Union Seminary in 1968 and later embarked on doctoral studies in atomic physics at Columbia University, completing his Ph.D. in early 1975.
In the spring of 1975, James moved with Judith and their young daughter, Anne, to Menlo Park, California, where he began a 33-year career at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center (SLAC). His groundbreaking work in physics earned him the respect of colleagues and a reputation for brilliance, dedication, and humility.
While in California, James embraced an active lifestyle, becoming an avid runner, completing numerous marathons and 10k races. After retiring in 2008, he discovered his love for cycling, logging an impressive 5,000 miles a year right up until his passing.
James was a man of many talents and passions. He was an enthusiastic cook, a gracious host, an adventurous traveler, and a connoisseur of fine food, wine, and classical music. A longtime subscriber to the San Francisco Symphony, James’s curiosity and love of culture knew no bounds. He also gave generously of his time, actively participating in the Menlo Park Historical Association, the dedicated Stanford Angell Field Ancients, and various cycling, cooking and book clubs.
James is survived by his beloved wife of 62 years, Judith; his daughter, Anne and son-in-law George; feline “daughter” Casey; his East Coast siblings - younger sisters, Mary (Helen), Elaine, and Julie; and his younger brother, Steve, along with multiple nieces & nephews. He was deeply loved and will be dearly missed by his family, friends, and the many communities he touched.
A celebration of Jym’s epic life will be held in the new year.
In Jym’s memory, please consider a donation to a cause near & dear to his heart: Abundant Grace Coastside Worker (www.abundantgracecw.org), a local nonprofit transforming the lives of homeless people through meaningful work.
In Memoriam
James (Jym) Edwin Clendenin
June 10, 1939-Nov. 26, 2024
Menlo Park, California
Submitted by Anne Coughlin
Full Circle Food Justice
Full Circle Food Justice – Our signature program is a partnership with Potrero Nuevo Farm, south of Half Moon Bay. Each week, we engage individuals experiencing homelessness growing fresh, organic produce through three different projects as part of our job-readiness training: Farm Work Days, Farm Apprenticeship, and Conservation Crew.
AGCW Farm Program participants plant, tend, and harvest around 20,000 lbs of fresh produce annually, which is given away for free to low-income families at our WDC & through other food distribution sites on the Coast. As participants attend more sessions, we build on the skills participants have learned and give them more complex jobs with more responsibility, eventually asking them to teach other participants. This strategy builds self-confidence and empowers participants to engage in their work, to feel connected, and ideally is a springboard for employment outside of AGCW.
In addition to regular farm days, FCFJ includes two higher-level programs: the Farm Apprenticeship and the Conservation Crew. AGCW also coordinates a Free Community Breakfast at Coastside Lutheran Church on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Coastside Clean Team
The Coastside Clean Team (CCT) is partially funded through a contract with the City of Half Moon Bay and provides paid opportunities for participants to engage in meaningful work for a three-hour session, 4 days per week cleaning the beach and coastal trail between Kelly Avenue and Poplar Beach, as well as for additional special encampment cleanup work days when necessary. The CCT promotes re-entry to regular work and community connection. CCT crews pick up litter and debris from beaches, neighborhoods, parks, and coastal trails.
While getting paid is important, so is a sense of meaning in doing something for the community and working with a team, plus, it's always nice when people at the beach come up and thank us for our work. It's a great service! We’ve had a tremendously positive impact, greatly reducing trash along the beaches, especially at Poplar Beach. Neighbors have been very supportive of our crews as well. This past year, Abundant Grace also adopted the highway that runs through town. You can watch our June 2023 report to the city which details our clean up work and its connection to climate change education and practice here: https://bit.ly/3rg0lpb.
Workforce Development Center
The WDC is the hub of all our services and of homelessness services in the area, and we intentionally craft a space that is inviting, inclusive and supportive. It offers a wide range of resources including access to the kitchen, showers, laundry, food, clothing room, laptops and WiFi access, limited storage and mail service, personal care items, bicycle repair, resume building, job searches, housing application assistance, community programming and social events. We also provide space for case management services through LifeMoves, medical services through a partnership with the weekly Street Medical Team, and a county psychiatrist who comes here every other week to meet with clients. The WDC houses our administrative offices and is the meeting point for all of our employment programs. It is also the site of our twice-weekly farmstand produce distribution, where we give away fresh, organic produce from our farm program partnership with Potrero Nuevo Farm. Many of the recipients of the fresh produce are farmworker and service worker families. Additionally, the WDC hosts shared meals, movie nights and pizza parties, as well as memorials when we lose members of our community and celebrations such as when a participant finds permanent housing or marks significant sobriety milestones.