Bay Area journalist and former Peninsula Press Club president Jim Monroe died Monday after a battle with liver cancer.
Monroe, 71, spent a career in journalism and public relations before retiring at 55 to spend more time with his wife and family in San Carlos.
“He was very outgoing and he loved to party,” said his wife Lois Monroe. “We had a good time together.”
Monroe was born in Minnesota and moved to Southern California when he was a young reporter. He spent a few years working for small papers in the Los Angles area before moving to the Bay Area and settling in San Carlos 40 years ago, said Lois Monroe.
He worked for the Redwood City Tribune and freelanced with other publications. His love of history led him to write a weekly history question and answer column. He later worked in the public relations department at AT&T for 20 years where he helped organize the 1984 Olympic torch relay and the annual company-sponsored celebrity golf tournament. He ended his career as a spokesman for Pacific Bell. He served as president of the Peninsula Press Club in 1995 and 1996, said Lois Monroe.
In his retirement, Monroe enjoyed the great outdoors with his wife at their cabin in Arnold, Calif. The two also took trips to Europe and repeatedly visited England and Ireland. When he was not traveling, Monroe read history and mystery novels, did crossword puzzles and played softball.
He played on the 70 and over senior softball team in Redwood City, where he helped the team win two championships. Although he was suffering with cancer, he managed to play at least one game during last year’s season, said Lois Monroe.
Lois Monroe said her husband also volunteered his public relations expertise at both Coyote Point Museum and the San Mateo County Historical Society.
He is survived by his wife and sons Michael and Matthew. The family will hold a private memorial service.