James N. Duggan was 59
James N. Duggan was 59
James N. Duggan, a 30-year veteran of the produce industry, died Sunday, Feb. 19 in his Chico, CA, home after a brief battle with cancer.
Born in San Francisco, Mr. Duggan started his produce career in 1976 when he bought Dale Landing Produce in Eureka, CA. A. Levy & J. Zentner subsequently made Mr. Duggan a deal and took over Dale Landing, making Mr. Duggan manager of the Eureka branch. He then transferred to San Luis Obispo, where he managed that location from 1977 to 1979.
Mr. Duggan continued his successful career, starting his own wholesale business buying and delivering produce for the Shop & Save chain along with S&S Produce in Chico, CA, and the surrounding area.
Mr. Duggan co-founded Chico Produce in 1983 and expanded with Redding Produce, Eureka Produce and a Sacramento facility that now all comprise ProPacific Fresh. ProPacific Transport -- a transportation company -- along with a truck repair and parts center Durham-Pentz Truck Center soon followed.
ProPacific Fresh closed for half a day Saturday, Feb. 25, to honor Mr. Duggan and allow employees to attend the funeral service.
Mike Ayers, a senior buyer with ProPacific Fresh, said that Mr. Duggan was a people person and a trusted and well- established businessman whose spirit of fun made working with him always enjoyable.
"If you had a problem, he was the one you went to," Mr. Ayers said. "He was my mentor."
Wayne Cecchettini of Chick's Produce Inc. in Sacramento, CA, called Mr. Duggan "a true produce man."
"His (Mr. Duggan's) word was good," Mr. Cecchettini said. "He took care of his customers and his suppliers."
Hank Imwalle of Los Gatos, CA-based Bay Area Produce Inc., said Mr. Duggan made business fun.
"He goes back to the days when your word was your bond and a handshake was the way you did business," Mr. Imwalle said. "He was a fine gentleman."
Mr. Duggan is survived by his wife, Vikki; two daughters, Monica and Alicia; a son, Ryan; four grandchildren, Kianna, Amanda, Mariah and Zachary; and four siblings, Mary Crawford, Jack Duggan, Joe Duggan and Sharon Duggan.
The family requests that memorial contributions be made to Chico Work Training Center, a non-profit organization providing services to people with disabilities.
Born in San Francisco, Mr. Duggan started his produce career in 1976 when he bought Dale Landing Produce in Eureka, CA. A. Levy & J. Zentner subsequently made Mr. Duggan a deal and took over Dale Landing, making Mr. Duggan manager of the Eureka branch. He then transferred to San Luis Obispo, where he managed that location from 1977 to 1979.
Mr. Duggan continued his successful career, starting his own wholesale business buying and delivering produce for the Shop & Save chain along with S&S Produce in Chico, CA, and the surrounding area.
Mr. Duggan co-founded Chico Produce in 1983 and expanded with Redding Produce, Eureka Produce and a Sacramento facility that now all comprise ProPacific Fresh. ProPacific Transport -- a transportation company -- along with a truck repair and parts center Durham-Pentz Truck Center soon followed.
ProPacific Fresh closed for half a day Saturday, Feb. 25, to honor Mr. Duggan and allow employees to attend the funeral service.
Mike Ayers, a senior buyer with ProPacific Fresh, said that Mr. Duggan was a people person and a trusted and well- established businessman whose spirit of fun made working with him always enjoyable.
"If you had a problem, he was the one you went to," Mr. Ayers said. "He was my mentor."
Wayne Cecchettini of Chick's Produce Inc. in Sacramento, CA, called Mr. Duggan "a true produce man."
"His (Mr. Duggan's) word was good," Mr. Cecchettini said. "He took care of his customers and his suppliers."
Hank Imwalle of Los Gatos, CA-based Bay Area Produce Inc., said Mr. Duggan made business fun.
"He goes back to the days when your word was your bond and a handshake was the way you did business," Mr. Imwalle said. "He was a fine gentleman."
Mr. Duggan is survived by his wife, Vikki; two daughters, Monica and Alicia; a son, Ryan; four grandchildren, Kianna, Amanda, Mariah and Zachary; and four siblings, Mary Crawford, Jack Duggan, Joe Duggan and Sharon Duggan.
The family requests that memorial contributions be made to Chico Work Training Center, a non-profit organization providing services to people with disabilities.
