Jim Cano

Birthplace: Guadalajara,  Mexico
Last Resided in: Bellingham, WA
Service: Celebration of Life
Location: Westford Funeral Home
Date: Wed. 6/16
Time: 1PM
Service: Funeral Service
Location: Other
Date: Sat. 6/19
Time: 1PM
Notes: Funeral and Interment at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills, Church of the Hills, in Los Angeles, CA.
Obituary
Jim N. Cano, age 66 of Bellingham, WA passed away 6/12/2010.  He was born 1/22/1944 in Guadalajara, MX to Philip U. Cano and Elena N. Cano.  Preceded in death by father Philip. Survived by wife Arlene Cano, son James (Debby), grandson Darien, mother Elena, brother Philip Jr. (Maria Elena), sister Helen Meadors (Greg) and Diane Flynn (Albert), niece Myrna, nephews Philip III, William, Jose, Brian, Max, Eric, Curtis, Evan and Justin. Sister-in-law Joy Bauck (Robert) and nephew Jason of Bellingham. A Celebration of Life will be held at Westford Funeral Home on Wednesday, June 16, 2010 at 1:00 PM. Interment will be at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills Cemetery, Church of the Hills,  in Los Angeles, CA on Sat. June 19th, 2010 at 1:00 PM.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Whatcom Hospice.
Jim’s Eulogy:
Jaime Nunez Cano was born on January 22, 1944 in Guadalajara Mexico to Philip and Elena Cano.  He was born second in sucession after Philip Jr. and followed by his two younger sisters, Diane and Helen.
When Jim was four-years-old, the family moved to Los Angeles, California.  He attended school there and graduated from Belmont High in 1961.  He then attended Los Angeles City College while working at a movie theater.  It was there that he met his firstwife, Janett Ann Deatherage, whom he married in 1963.  Their son, James Andrew Cano, was born to them in January 1964.  Two years later Jim and Janett separated and divorced a few years later but continued to be friends and to raise their son, James, together.
Jim worked in Hollywood and Beverly Hills restaurants such as the Century Plaza Hotel, The Brown Derby, the Fogcutter, and Nikadels.  He also worked in the catering departments at both The Bistro and Chassen’s.
Jim became the Manager/Maitre d’ of Dan Tana’s Restaurant in West Hollywood where he worked for 25 years tending to Hollywood stars and people in the music and film industries.  One of the many stories that he loves to tell is how he would sit down in a booth and color with Drew Barrymore when she was a little girl.
During his restaurant tenure, he served Presidents Kennedy, Reagan, Nixon, Carter and Ford.
In 1998, Jim’s father, Philip Cano, who had also been employed in the restaurant industry, was named “Maitre d’ of the Year” by The Restaurant Writer’s Association of Los Angeles.  The very next year, 1999, while Jim was employed at Tana’s in West Hollywood, HE was named “Maitre d’ of the Year!”
While working at the Century Plaza Hotel, he met Arlene Moore.  The first time he saw her, he told one of his fellow waiters, “I’m going to marry that girl.”  They were together for eight years before marrying on November 6, 1976, for a total of 42 years.
In 2003 Jim and Arlene moved here to Bellingham where he got to build his dream house out on Northshore Road on three landscaped acres with a large pond. Eventually this proved to be too much work so they sold it to the Peggy and Dennis Bainbridge who love the house and property.
Upon moving here, Jim began working for Haggen’s Grocery chain where he worked for 7 years at 4 locations.  He began at the Ferndale store working in the Orient Department.  He then moved to the Meridian store and then to the Barkley store serving as Assistant Deli Manager.  He then transferred to the Fairhaven store in the same capacity.  He loved to work and loved all of his  jobs.  He loved the Haggen corporation, the managers and all of the Haggen “family” co-workers with whom he worked.
He was impressed by Rick Haggen’s work ethics.  While living across the street from Rick on North Shore, Jim would get up very early in the mornings and notice a yard worker doing chores, clearing the driveway, picking up apples, raking leaves, etc.  Jim and Arlene laughed.