City Council Adjourns in Honor of Jim Ukropina, Doug Kranwinkle

The Pasadena City Council adjourned its meeting Monday night in honor of Jim Ukropina, recognizing a life devoted to civic leadership, legal excellence, and charitable impact.

Ukropina, a widely respected attorney, philanthropist, and longtime Pasadena resident known for his steadfast commitment to ethics and public service, died April 8 at his home in Pasadena of natural causes. He was 87.

Ukropina built a distinguished career spanning law, corporate leadership, and nonprofit advocacy. A former partner at O’Melveny and Myers, Ukropina advised Fortune 500 companies and prominent figures including entertainer Bing Crosby, and served on the boards of 10 corporations, including Lockheed Martin and Pacific Life.

Born in Fresno on Sept. 10, 1937, Ukropina was raised in San Marino with his twin sister, Jo-an, and older brother, John. His father, Robert, a Serbian immigrant with a fourth-grade education, became a well-known Southern California contractor. His mother, Persida, was active in local civic organizations.

Ukropina graduated from South Pasadena San Marino High School, where he served as student body president, and later attended Stanford University. There, he played football and served as president of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity and the Interfraternity Judicial Council. He earned a degree in American History in 1959 and an MBA from Stanford’s Graduate School of Business before serving in the U.S. Air Force and Air National Guard.

He later earned his law degree from the University of Southern California in 1965, where he was Editor-in-Chief of the Southern California Law Review.

Ukropina joined O’Melveny and Myers as the firm’s 100th lawyer, eventually rising to partner. In the 1980s, he held senior executive roles at Santa Fe International and Pacific Lighting, where he oversaw legal operations in offshore drilling and energy sectors. He returned to O’Melveny in 1990 to continue practicing business law.

Beyond his corporate roles, Ukropina was a trusted advisor and mentor in the nonprofit sector, serving educational institutions and foundations. His most impactful philanthropic work came through the W.M. Keck Foundation, where he served as director, senior officer, and president over a 20-year span, supporting initiatives in science and medical research.

A devoted alumnus, Ukropina remained active in the Stanford community throughout his life, helping lead fundraising efforts and serving on the university’s Board of Trustees. He chaired the committee that appointed John Hennessy, Stanford’s 10th president.

An avid traveler and lifelong learner, Ukropina visited 65 countries and all 50 U.S. states. His hobbies included golf, tennis, photography, literature, and fine dining. He was a member of the California Club in Los Angeles, Valley Hunt Club and Annandale Golf Club in Pasadena, and the Valley Club in Sun Valley, Idaho.

Ukropina is survived by his former wife of 40 years, Lois Ukropina of Sun Valley, Idaho; their three sons—Mike (Kimber) of Massachusetts, David (Marta) of Oregon, and Mark of Idaho; and five grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his second wife, Margaret Duckhorn, a renowned Napa Valley vintner.

He is also survived by six nieces and nephews, and remembered for the deep ties he maintained with his extended family.

A private memorial will be held. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Stanford University in Ukropina’s memory, directed to The Stanford Fund, Stanford Athletics, or the James Ukropina Football Endowment Fund.

Condolences can be shared online at cabotandsons.com.

The City Council also adjourned in honor of Ukropina’s close friend Doug Kranwinkle.

Kranwinkle served on the Rose Bowl Operating Company for 25 years, including two as board president, until his retirement from the board earlier this year. He also served as a member of the Rose Bowl Institute’s Steering Committee and co-chaired the Arroyo Advisory Group, the forerunner of the One Arroyo Foundation.