A former police commissioner from Pasadena, California passed away August 29, 2009, four months following his mesothelioma diagnosis.
Quincy A. James, 76, died from the asbestos-related cancer in his home and was likely exposed to asbestos during his work as a pipefitter in the 1950s. He worked as a pipefitter for seven years to pay for his education at the University of Houston and the South Texas College of Law.
Though James passed away due to his mesothelioma diagnosis, he successfully battled a myriad of other health conditions throughout his life. He was diagnosed with polio at 18 months old, but James “never let that disability affect the goals he wanted to achieve,” his daughter, Jala Lavender said.
James did not receive treatment for polio for nearly two years after his diagnosis, and the viral disease caused him to live with one leg that was shorter than the other. James managed to overcome adversity and became a Golden Gloves boxer during his time at the University of Houston.
James faced another health concern when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer approximately 20 years ago. “He was never a person to say, ‘Woe is me,’” said his daughter. “I never heard my dad complain, even through this.”
Family and friends remember James as a man dedicated to public service throughout his life. He served as City Commissioner Position 2 and oversaw the Pasadena police force as police commissioner for two years.
“He was not only a great public servant, but also a great citizen and a very good friend,” Mayor Johnny Isbell said of James.
Rev. Dr. John D. Morgan, senior pastor of James’ church, said James personified his church’s mission “to be living proof of a loving God to a watching world.”
A funeral for James is scheduled for Wednesday, September 2 at Sagemont Church in Houston, Texas.
Additional information about mesothelioma may be found through the mesothelioma Center.