Obituary
James M. Dale, age 91, passed away on Sunday, April 7, 2024 in Davie, Florida.
With deep admiration and appreciation, we announce the passing of James(Jim) Marklan Dale, who passed peacefully on April 7, 2024 at his home in his beloved RexmereVillage, the community he built from virtually the ground-up.
Born on July 2nd, 1932 in Los Angeles to Tom and Hester Dale, Jim lived a beautiful life full of
purpose, love, humor, family, and an unyielding desire to contribute to the betterment of society. Jim was a larger-than-life person who charmed nearly everyone he met. From the precocious age of 13, Jim's passion for sports was intense and successful. He won countless awards and adorned the covers of multiple magazines for his weightlifting, even in his early teens. He enjoyed passing on this passion to friends and family and happily said, "it felt like the earth shook when [he] walked". After graduating from UCLA and serving his country for 3 years in the Marines, Jim returned to UCLA and earned a law degree, where he was on Law Review and also served as President of his class. Jim practiced law, but his entrepreneurial spirit guided him to explore the burgeoning cable industry of the 1960s, acquiring and later selling cable franchises across the country. Jim’s passion for real estate and business law flourished in Florida, where he was enthusiastically involved in the Manufactured Housing Association, reflecting his commitment to community and affordable housing. He acquired Rexmere Village in 1979 and Paradise Village in 1983 – two communities that stand as a testament to his dedication to transformation through entrepreneurship. Over the years and still today, these communities offer economic mobility, safety, and attractive affordable housing to over 1200 families at any given time.
In 1991, he married his wife Bonnie, after meeting and falling in love with her on a cross-country
flight. Together, they had a daughter, built companies, and traveled. Jim was driven in all parts
of his life by a genuine curiosity. On nearly every trip abroad, he would hire an interpreter and
visit local court proceedings to understand justice systems. He was a voracious reader on all
subjects he could get his hands on. Jim would listen to radically varying courses on tape for
hours on end. He often told family and friends, "Always be curious about people. Everyone has
a story, you just need to ask." Jim also had an intimate love for volleyball and played it nearly
every day for almost 40 years.
Jim seemed to find unusual ways to uplift the lives of others. His philanthropic efforts were quiet,
yet impactful. During a trip to the Soviet Union in the 1980s, he helped a young family escape to
the United States and offered them his own home. He was the earliest supporter and advisor to
prominent educator Janet Lieberman’s “Middle College High School” – a program that aimed to
create a positive learning environment for disengaged high school students and provide an
opportunity to participate in college-level classes. Middle College was a huge success; there are
now more than 30 Middle Colleges around the country.
Jim is survived by his wife, Bonnie Dale, his three daughters: Carolynne, Cathrynne, and
Lindsay, along with his granddaughter, Amber.
The family wishes to extend their gratitude to (among too many to list) Dixie Daniel, Erika Pena,
Esther Lopez-Carrillo, Alana Lang, Stephanie Gobstein, Avril Willory, Frances Donaldson, Dee
Myers, and Dave Bradshaw for their extraordinary caregiving and support during his last
exceptionally active years.
A private burial will be held for Jim, followed by a celebration of life on April 18th at the Rexmere
Village Wharf Club at approximately 4pm, honoring his wishes for a modest and patriotic
farewell. In celebrating Jim, he would likely turn around the celebration and remind loved ones
to "celebrate each day." These were not just words to him. This was how he lived his life - and is
the legacy he leaves. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the USC
Alzheimer's Therapeutic Research Institute (Found Online at atri.usc.edu).
Donations
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the USC
Alzheimer's Therapeutic Research Institute (Found Online at atri.usc.edu).