Del Mar Community Connections (DMCC) recently announced Jim Dutton as its December Volunteer of the Month because, among his many traits, he is a volunteer who can be relied upon in a clutch situation, according to a news release.
Dutton became part of DMCC’s volunteer team in early 2024 when he was a visiting author to the Page Turners Book Talk. Dutton mentioned that he would love to help with DMCC’s programs and services, and shortly thereafter was trained as an Essential Transportation volunteer. Since then, he has driven countless seniors for personalized appointments. He also joined the Page Turners planning committee so that he can help shape fascinating discussions with authors.
Dutton was nominated by board member and Transportation Committee member Dan Maneval who said in the news release, “Jim is always willing to help new clients and provide valuable feedback to the staff. We really appreciate his attention to what’s most important.”
Dutton grew up in the Bay Area and worked as a prosecutor for most of his career, beginning in Bakersfield for Kern County. He moved south after five years there, working in the San Diego District Attorney office for a year, then worked 25 years in the California Attorney General’s office.
Dutton and his wife Heidi Weisbaum (a deputy attorney general for the state of California herself) have lived in Del Mar for 30 years. They raised their now-30-something sons Nick and Josh, and eventually completed the family with “missing link” dog Wylie E. Coyote. Dutton used his legal expertise to write a number of fiction thrillers, most notably Path to Justice.
In addition to his impressive career, family, and volunteer work, Dutton has a deep passion for travel. “Just in the last 15 months, I have been fortunate to travel to Brazil to see the jaguars in the Pantanal, the eagle hunters in Mongolia, high mountain passes and beautiful architecture along the Silk Road in Central Asia; up-close animals on safaris in Kenya, and treks to see a mountain gorilla family and golden monkeys in Rwanda,” Dutton said in the news release.
Volunteering is important to Dutton because “Many of the DMCC seniors I’ve spent time with have inspired me, especially those who have remained incredibly positive and intellectually curious while overcoming significant physical disabilities,” he said in the news release.
Longtime DMCC volunteer Nate McCay, a past president and the 2017 Volunteer of the Year, “lured” him into volunteering and Dutton is pretty pleased that he did! “I have been happily ensnared in DMCC’s web of good deeds. Driving Del Mar seniors has been a pleasure,” Dutton said.
DMCC needs volunteers for everything; the organization needs more people like Dutton, who drives his own car to take non-driving neighbors to doctor appointments and to go grocery shopping, or joins a team that oversees and improves programming. “I have met so many interesting people driving to grocery shopping, medical appointments and the like,” Dutton added in the news release.
Those interested in learning more about Jim Dutton or volunteering for DMCC may visit www.dmcc.cc/volunteerofthemonth. Del Mar Community Connections is a 501c3 nonprofit organization with a mission to support and serve the older adults of Del Mar who are aging independently at home. DMCC helps seniors live active, vibrant lives by providing transportation, education, and social activities. To learn more about Dutton, DMCC, or volunteer opportunities at DMCC, visit the website at www.dmcc.cc, email dmcc@dmcc.cc, or call during business hours at (858) 792-7565.