Doctor James Irving Bruff, 88, died in Whittier, California, on March 4, 2011. He was born in Seoul, Korea, on November 11,1922, while his parents were on a medical mission. He jumped during the 1945 fire season as one of the Civilian Public Service jumpers and had five fire jumps.

James graduated from Whittier College with a bachelor's degree and entered medical school at the University of California San Francisco. His wife, Joyce, was a bacteriologist at UCSF. After medical school and an internship at Los Angeles County USC hospital, he joined his father in medical practice in Whittier. Both he and his father were supportive and actively involved in Presbyterian Hospital's development and staff activities.

In practice for decades, he attended many births, performed surgery, was an astute diagnostician and caring family physician. He was chairman of the Department of Family Medicine and active in the medical community. He enjoyed flying and was a capable pilot. He is buried at Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier, California.