James Valentine Loftus - Obituary

ames Valentine Loftus, 88, of Annapolis, MD, died peacefully on April 8, 2022. Born to the late Evelyn Walsh and Joseph Loftus in Chicago on February 14, 1934, Jim grew up on the city’s Near North Side and attended Saint Bede Academy in Peru, IL. He went on to win an NROTC scholarship to study electrical engineering at Marquette University. It was there that he met his wife, Patricia Racana, to whom he was married for 65 years. Jim served as an officer in the U.S. Navy at Great Lakes Naval Base in Illinois before embarking on a successful career in the semiconductor industry. He spent much of his professional life at Motorola, where he rose through the ranks to become a vice president and distinguished himself as a manager and mentor. In his free time, Jim loved nothing more than to sail on the Chesapeake Bay on his beloved Orange Peel with family and friends. Jim was a faithful parishioner at St. Catherine Laboure in Glenview, IL, St. Mary’s in Annapolis, MD, and St. Patrick’s in Lake Forest, IL, where he gave freely of himself to raise and donate funds for those less fortunate. In his retirement, Jim enjoyed his grandchildren, golf, travel, and a good gin & tonic. He is survived by his wife, Patricia; sons, Timothy (Toni) of Elkhorn, WI, Michael (Desirea) of Sherman Oaks, CA, Peter (Chantal) of Burlington, ON; daughters, Margaret “Peggy” (David Jones) Loftus of Charleston, SC, and Evelyn “Evie” (Arnold) Turner of Severna Park, MD; and grandchildren, Callahan Loftus, Claire Turner, and Patrick Turner. He was predeceased by his brother, Joseph. The Loftus family wishes to extend their most heartfelt thanks to Hospice of the Chesapeake and the nurses at Anne Arundel Medical Center. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 4 at 10:30 am at St. John Neumann Catholic Church, 620 N Bestgate Rd, Annapolis, MD. Memorial donations may be made in James’ name to Hospice of the Chesapeake, 90 Richie Hwy., Pasadena, MD 21122. Online condolences may be offered using the Memories link on this page.