James "Jim" Doan lost his year long battle with pancreatic cancer at age 73 on February14, 2003. Jim was raised in San Marino, California. He attended Valentine and Huntington schools before attending (the then) South Pasadena-San Marino high school where he was inducted into its Hall of Fame for his athletic achievements in basketball and tennis.

After high school, Jim attended the University of Iowa, Modesto Jr. College and then graduated from the University of California at Berkeley. His longtime friends will always remember him as an outstanding and competitive athlete. At UC Berkeley, he was the MVP and captain of the basketball team in the 1952-1953 season. Jim was also an accomplished tennis player. Before lettering at Berkeley he won the National Jr. College Tennis Championships in singles and doubles while attending Modesto Jr. College. After college, he followed the sports that he loved. He was an assistant coach for UC Berkeley Basketball Team and he also worked for Jack Kramer on "The Jack Kramer Professional Tennis Tour" as a "court hand" - enjoying traveling around the world with the top tennis players of that time.

In his professional life, Jim worked the investment business and soon became one of the top "Over the Counter Traders/Market Makers" in Los Angeles. He later became a very successful tennis teaching professional in North County San Diego. For the last seventeen years, he had been enjoying life and playing golf in the Hidden Meadows Community of Escondido. His many friends will always remember him for his easygoing demeanor, lovable personality, wonderful sense of humor and unmistakable jolly laugh. All who knew him, will sorely miss him. As one of the world's most kindhearted men to his friends and a devoted loving father to his children, and he enriched the lives of all who knew him. Survived by his four children: Kathy Garcia and Margarito, Jim Doan Jr., Eric Doan and Kristine, George Doan and Tammy; five grandchildren: David, Steven, Michael, Richard and James, his "twin" brother Larry Doan and his wife Dudley, and his longtime companion, Anita Montgomery, and her loving children and grandchildren. 

San Diego Union-Tribune, February 26, 2003