James J. Ryan

Jim Ryan, former Sr. VP/General Manager of Automotive Operations for BMW of No. America, died at Arcadia Methodist Hospital at age 67. Jim’s career in the car business began as a boy, when he swept floors in his grandfather’s Chrysler Plymouth dealership in MA. After graduating from Stevens Institute of Technology in NJ with both an undergraduate and graduate degree, he worked for Ford for 10 years in various technical-related positions before being hired in 1975 at the newly-formed BMW U.S. organization. Over the next 30 yrs (except for a 5-yr time-out as a Mercedes-Benz dealer and as Exec VP of Porsche Cars No. America), he climbed the corporate ladder at BMW, earning respect from peers, managers and subordinates alike, all the way to the top. His work ethic was exemplary and he possessed true leadership quality, providing inspiration to hundreds of others. Jim retired in 2002, then worked as a consultant to oversee the design & construction of what was the largest BMW dealership in the U.S. at that time, New Century BMW in Alhambra, CA. He was then recruited by BMW Germany to direct the CleanEnergy program in the US, where he placed a fleet of hydrogen-fueled BMWs with “high visibility” people in sports, entertainment, business & govt. Jim’s primary hobby was “muscle cars,” having been a former drag racer (he set NHRA National Records in Super Stock classes). He was in the process of restoring a ’66 Fairlane 427-R, a dream he was unable to fulfill before his life was cut short. Jim was active in his 20th Century Roundtable business breakfast club, the Santa Anita A’s Model A car club, and he was a member of the City of Bradbury Planning Commission. As Chairman of the Board of Trustees of St. Francis Medical Center in Lynwood, he was passionate about serving others & spent several months every year planning & leading an annual motorcycle Charity Ride to benefit both the St. Francis Medical Center’s Footprints Program & the CHP 11-99 Foundation. He is survived by his wife of 27 years, Toni; 4 children (James, Robert, Chris, Jennifer), 3 grandchildren (Sean, Nicole, Jessica), & a brother (Robert). A “Celebration of Life” will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 6, at St. Francis Medical Ctr in Lynwood. The family has requested that flowers not be sent. Instead, donations may be made in Jim’s memory to either of the two charities he was passionate about: the St. Francis Medical Center Foundation/Footprints Program (www.sfmcfoundation.org/donatenow) or the CHP 11-99 Foundation (www.chp11-99foundation.org/donate).