James Allen Strickland

James A. Strickland entered eternal rest on July 25, 2025, after a 25-year battle with multiple sclerosis (MS). Jim is survived by his devoted wife of 52 years, Nancy (nee Sullivan); his children, Cori Strickland, Tiffany Stanley (Michael), Kyle Strickland (Jennifer), and Lindsay DiStefano (Michael); his grandchildren, Madison Strickland, Foster and Keegan Stanley, Ethan and Giselle Strickland, and Jack, William, and Luke DiStefano; his brother, Robert, and his wife, Gayle; as well as his Sullivan siblings, and many nieces and nephews who lovingly supported him. Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Jean (nee Duncan) Strickland, and his parents-in-law, Robert and Phyllis Sullivan.

Jim was born on March 15, 1948, in Cleveland, Ohio as the youngest of two boys. He spent his childhood drawing any chance he could and playing football and baseball. He was spared from the Vietnam War because of an old treehouse injury that happened while trying to fit in with his older brother, a story Jim loved to tell. Jim carved an independent path for himself attending Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY as the first son in generations to not go into engineering. He was drawn back to Cleveland and continued his undergraduate studies at the Cleveland Institute of Art, where he would eventually become an instructor of industrial design and honored with the title of professor emeritus. Jim began his career as an Advertising Director for Ponderosa Steakhouse in Dayton, Ohio. Relocating to Cleveland, Jim briefly became a stay at home dad (one of the first in his generation) to support Nancy’s rapidly developing career. Jim then went to work for F. Eugene Smith Design in Bath, Ohio, working for clients, such as First Merit Bank. A couple of years later, Jim started his own graphic design business and Nancy was drawn to serving as his CEO for them to pursue their careers together. Jim and Nancy retired in Orlando, FL where they lived for 4 years before moving to Phoenix, AZ.

Jim’s creative work lives on through long-lasting designs all over the country, including on Hilton Head Island, SC, which became a beloved place for the Strickland family, BP gas and service stations, golf courses in Ohio, as well as through countless paintings he continued to produce using a computer after MS took his ability to paint away.

Life was challenging for Jim in many ways, and he was the first to admit even in his final days that he was not perfect, but he loved as hard as he could. His children and grandchildren felt this love even through hard times. He greatly enjoyed watching his youngest two children play ice hockey, shared his love of art with his son, Kyle, and was grateful for witnessing all his children become parents themselves and experience this unconditional love. Jim chose to become a member of the Catholic Church as an adult. His 52-year marriage to Nancy was a testament to all around them of lifelong commitment, resiliency, and devotion to a partner in life’s joys and challenges. Jim’s family will forever be indebted to Nancy for her selfless caregiving of Jim, especially over the last decade.

Jim’s life will be celebrated on Saturday, August 16, 2025 at St. Raphael’s Catholic Parish in Bay Village, Ohio at 10:30 am. EST He will be laid to rest at a later date on Hilton Head Island, SC. In lieu of flowers, please consider a charitable donation in Jim’s name to Be a Wonder Foundation (www.beawonder.org) in honor of Jim’s grandsons, the Fibrolamellar Cancer Foundation. https://fibrofoundation.org/ in honor of Jim’s daughter-in-law, Jennifer, or the National MS Society. Jim will be remembered anytime his loved ones see a lighthouse, a palm tree, or a beautiful piece of art.