James Thomas Slayback

James Thomas Slayback, Jr. was born on April 5, 1929, in Los Angeles, California at White Memorial Hospital to James Slayback, Sr. and Alma Mundall. Little Jimmy was 3 months premature and doctors said he had little chance to survive. But even back then, Little Jimmy had quite the tenacity for life. He said that they pumped him full of caffeine. It's no wonder he always had 3-4 cups of coffee in the mornings in his adult years. He was a devout child, minding the teachings of the Bible and saying his nightly prayers. He had not committed any sins until this one fateful night at the age of 7. He was attending the Seventh Day Adventist Summer Camp when the counselors asked everyone in the circle to confess a sin. Well, since Little Jimmy didn't have any sins, he made one up! He claimed that he had smoked 2 big black cigars! Despite that, he was named "Camper of the Year."

Jimmy would be the first to tell you that he was not studious. He had a hearing impairment as a result of treatment with rubbing alcohol for a severe ear infection. Although he considered himself to have a disability, he completed high school and went on to study medicine, like his father. Jimmy earned his MD degree at Loma Linda University, specializing in OB/GYN. He was a successful physician, delivering half of Glendale in the 70's and 80's, including his 2 grandsons!

Jimmy had many hobbies that included water-skiing, snow-skiing, cars, and golf. From childhood to adulthood, many family trips revolved around those extracurricular activities. He spent many a days at Lake Arrowhead, the "River" in Bullhead City, AZ, and Coronado. He was privileged as to have played at many golf courses throughout the country. And he enjoyed driving around in his fast cars. He did all of these up until last summer when his health slowly declined.

Jimmy passed away with family at his bedside. He leaves his daughters, Rochelle and Janci, son-in-law, Danny, grandsons, Jeremy and Tyson, granddaughter, Cassidy, and the most loyal Springer-Spaniel, Duncan. He is survived by his sisters, Larisa and Janet and his brother, John.

There will be a graveside service for Jimmy at Forest Lawn-Glendale on Saturday, March 16th at 10:00am. If you would like to attend the service, please stop at the information booth at the gate of Forest Lawn-Glendale on Saturday at 9:30am. From there you will be provided a map to the "Last Supper Window" where all vehicles will line up in a procession. We will then be led up to the gravesite at the "Court of Freedom."

A hosted reception will be held following the service at the Smoke House restaurant in Burbank.

In lieu of flowers, please pay it forward. Give to a person, charity, organization, church of your choice in Jimmy's (Dad's) name. He loved life, he loved all of you so please remember a health organization, church, armed forces, animal care facility, national park or river or lake in memory of him. Thank you