Obituary of James I Nixon Jr.

James Iredelle Nixon, Jr. died February 27, 2023, at his home in Stamford CT. Born June 21, 1933 in Pittsburgh to the late James I. Nixon and Annie Forest Nixon, he graduated from Carnegie Mellon University in 1956 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering. He was very proud of being a veteran of the Korean War. 

Mr. Nixon spent 18 years working for General Electric company. As a mechanical engineer, he designed jet engines for military aircraft and nuclear power plants for naval ship propulsion at the beginning of his career. Later, as an HR executive, he enhanced employment systems to increase the diversity of the work force, and finally he ended his career at GE as District Sales Manager covering the state of Michigan for the sales of GE Electric Apparatus.

He subsequently worked for ITT Corp, as Corporate Vice President and Director of Equal Opportunity Operations. He left ITT after 13 years to set up a consulting firm, North American Venture Development Group.

Mr. Nixon bought, with a partner, a manufacturing company in Clifton NJ and became President, CEO and co-owner of Inline Brake Manufacturing Corporation. They sold the company and Mr. Nixon joined, as Managing Director, Beacon Partners, Inc, a “turnaround” management consulting firm.

For many years, Mr. Nixon served the Stamford CT community as a member of the Boards of Director of: Visiting Nurse and Hospice Care of Southwestern CT, Liberation Programs, Stamford Academy of Information Technology & Engineering, and his beloved Lifetime Learners Institute at Norwalk Community College.

He was a member of the Urban Redevelopment Commission of the City of Stamford CT and the Board of Stamford’s Old Town Hall Redevelopment Authority. He also served on the Advisory Committee to the Washington DC based Employment Policy Foundation and the Small Business Advisory Committee to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

In 2013 Mr. Nixon was awarded the Stamford ICON Award which was created to recognize and honor African American citizens who have lived in Stamford for at least thirty years and made contributions to the community.

Mr. Nixon is survived by his wife of 34 years, Lea D. Nixon, who lovingly agreed to accompany him on what he called their joint ‘journey of life.” He is also survived by his sister, Norma Nixon Schofield, his son, James I. Nixon III, daughters, Danita Brown and Janette Dent, eight grandchildren, and four great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at Union Baptist Church, 805 Newfield Ave., Stamford CT on Wednesday, March 8, 2023 with the viewing beginning at 10 a.m. and the service at 11 a.m. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Lifetime Learning Institute Norwalk Community College, Learning Center, 188 Richard Ave., Norwalk CT 06854. Donations may also be made to the Union Baptist Church at the above address. https://ubcstamford.org/stewardship/