James Francis Toland, known to those who loved him as Jay, passed away peacefully on July 19, 2026, in Boca Raton, Florida. He was 62. Jay’s life was marked by curiosity, humor, and an easy generosity that made people feel welcome wherever he was.

Jay was born on June 19, 1964, in Long Beach, California. As the child of a Navy family, he moved often and built friendships across the country wherever life took him. He attended grade schools in Great Lakes, Illinois, and Newport, Rhode Island; junior high in El Cajon, California; and high school in Fairfax, Virginia, before earning his bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Berkeley. He later lived and worked in Los Angeles, San Diego, Northern Virginia, and finally Boca Raton, Florida.

Jay’s warmth and quick wit drew people to him, and his creativity came through in the writing, music, and cooking he shared with others. In his childhood, Jay spent some of his summers in Anacortes with his grandparents, Elenore and Dick Haddon, working on their farm. He grew to love the Pacific Northwest and especially Anacortes.

Jay is survived by his father, James C. Toland, and stepmother, Jenny Toland, of Anacortes, Washington; his brothers, Brent (Rebecca) Toland of Redondo Beach, California, and Keith (Debbie) Toland of Manassas, Virginia; his nephews and nieces, Jacob, Jordan, Michaela, and Kylee Toland; and his lifelong friends, Sharon Girouard and Trevor Zimmerman. He was preceded in death by his mother, Sharon Linn, in 2023.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Mary Catholic Church on September 15, 2026, at 11:00 AM, preceded by a Rosary at 10:30 AM. A committal service at Grandview Cemetery will follow the Mass, with a reception afterward in the Father Auer Center at St. Mary. Arrangements are in the care of Evans Funeral Chapel.

Jay Toland Memorial Video