Dr. James Walter Villaceces of Ventura California passed away at his home on March 29, 2024. Dr. James Villaveces was born November 04, 1933 at San Luis Obispo, California to Roberto Villaceces and Solita Combariza Villaveces. He went to Ventura High School, grew up in Ventura where he attended grammar school, middle school, high school and Junior College. He then attended UCLA for pre-med and grad school. Accepted at 11 medical schools, he decided on UC San Francisco receiving his degree in 1960. Following, he did his internship at Sawtelle VA hospital and continued training at Los Angeles Co Hospital where he did an adult allergy preceptorship. One of his UCSF professors called and asked him to be a pediatric teaching fellow in the newest UC Southern California medical school (UC IRVINE) which started at White Memorial Hospital. He later returned to Ventura and started the
first Ventura County Hospital allergy clinic. For 15 years, he presented both the pediatric and adult annual lectures at the hospital and helped on pediatric and medical rounds.
The director of the Ventura County Lung Association asked him to give the pulmonary lectures around the County, which he did, presenting more than 50 lectures on allergy and immunology. He was invited to join the Association Board where he eventually was elected President. While serving in this position, he also participated on the founding board for the Sports Hall of Fame for Ventura County. The Air Pollution Control District asked him to be on their board where he helped to form the first set of air pollution control rules for the County. The Science Fair was the next yearly venture. He enjoyed meeting with the bright young students presenting their science projects.
Following a bee sting fatality in a grammar school student, the school district called on him to help with production of an instruction booklet to help educate school personnel regarding bee stings and anaphylaxis. The booklet was so successful that it went into three printings with requests from countless California schools for copies.
He started the allergy practice in 1983 at 4080 Loma Vista Rd., #Ventura, CA 93003 and closed his practice in 2017. He was told that he passed high and had first of two successful board exams, 1974 and 1993. He passed the exam to become a fellow of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology and later became a fellow of the Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.
The group of allergists in the Tri-Counties decided to form their own society and named it The Gold Coast Allergy Society. He was honored to serve as President where lecturers from medical schools present new research information in our field.
He enjoyed writing, photography, lecturing, pistol target shooting, fishing and gardening. To help other physicians and fellow allergists understand and learn about the local trees, grasses and weeds that produce allergenic pollens, He helped organize the annual Weed Walk. This continues to this day and most of the Tri-County allergists have attended year after year.
He became interested in allergy research and my efforts were published in many medical journals including Western Medicine and the Annals of Allergy. His research included utilizing elemental diets for patients with eczema, and formulating a Street Tree Guide for all of Ventura County, letting patients know about planted trees and allergy. While he can diagnose Auto-immune illnesses, his interest remains in asthma, hay fever,
sinusitis, and eczema as well as food allergies.
Dr. James Villaveces and Rita, his companion for 44 years, enjoyed traveling to Hawaii, Cancun, Acapulco, and Puerto Vallarta. In California they vacationed in San Diego, San Francisco, Santa Barbara, Pebble Beach, Carmel, Lake Tahoe and various locations around the state to attend conferences with together. He enjoyed writing, photography, lecturing, pistol target shooting, fishing, gardening, ballroom dancing, bicycling, boogie boarding, hiking and swimming.
He is preceded in death by partner Rita Ann Altpeter; his parents, Roberto Villaceces and Solit
Combariza Villaveces; survived brother, Harold Villaveces sister-in-law Jane Villaveces, and nephews Jeff Villaveces, Joseph Villaveces, and John Villaveces. James will be remembered for his kindness, compassionate to his patients and much more. He touched the lives of many.
Family and friends are invited to visiting hours to be held Wednesday, May 15, 2024 from 10am until 12 Noon in the JOSEPH P. REARDON FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICE, 757 E. Main Street, Ventura. Funeral services will follow in the Chapel of the funeral home at 12 Noon. Interment will then follow at Ivy Lawn Memorial Park, Ventura.