Longtime Alameda Residents Irving and Joyce Blamire Remembered

The couple, married for 69 years, passed away six years apart at ages 93 and 96.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 2:41pm

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An extremely abstracted, out-of-focus photograph in soft pools of warm color and light, depicting the silhouettes of an elderly couple walking hand-in-hand down a sun-dappled street, conceptually representing the enduring love and companionship of the Blamires.A couple's lifetime of shared memories and community connections is celebrated in this impressionistic portrait of their enduring love.Alameda Today

Irving James (Jim) Blamire, a lifelong resident of Alameda, California, passed away in 2020 at the age of 93. His beloved wife, Joyce Beverly Johnson Blamire, passed away in 2026 at the age of 96. The couple was married for 69 years and was deeply involved in their local community.

Why it matters

The Blamires' story represents the enduring legacy of a couple who dedicated their lives to family, community, and each other over the course of nearly seven decades. Their passing marks the end of an era for Alameda, a close-knit city that has seen significant changes in recent years.

The details

Jim Blamire was born in Alameda in 1926 and served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. After his military service, he pursued a career in electrical engineering, working for Chevron for 37 years. Joyce Blamire was born in Oakland in 1929 and met Jim while they were both students at the University of California, Berkeley. The couple married in 1950 and had four children, moving to various locations across California, Oregon, Alaska, and Florida during Jim's career. Both were active in their local community, with Jim involved in the Kappa Sigma fraternity, the Alameda Elks Lodge, and the Old Alamedans, while Joyce was a devoted mother and known for her ability to 'add spark' to the lives of those around her.

  • Jim Blamire was born on May 16, 1926 in Alameda, California.
  • Jim and Joyce were married on July 29, 1950 in Reno, Nevada.
  • Jim Blamire passed away on February 9, 2020 at the age of 93.
  • Joyce Blamire passed away on April 1, 2026 at the age of 96.

The players

Irving James (Jim) Blamire

A lifelong resident of Alameda, California who served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and had a 37-year career as an electrical engineer at Chevron.

Joyce Beverly Johnson Blamire

Jim Blamire's beloved wife of 69 years, who was a devoted mother and known for her ability to 'add spark' to the lives of those around her.

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What they’re saying

“Life is all about who you share it with.”

— Jim Blamire

“Make life fun.”

— Joyce Blamire

The takeaway

The Blamires' story highlights the enduring power of community, family, and a life well-lived. Their decades-long marriage and active involvement in Alameda serve as an inspiration for how to build a meaningful and fulfilling life, even as the world around them changed.