April 13, 2018
The Only Weekly Newspaper Exclusively for the Ladera Ranch Area
Irvine Family Heir to Wed Former Ms. America In Historic Wedding! James M. Irvine and Susan R. Jeske have announced their engagement and will be married in the Spring of 2018 at the Irvine Ranch Historic Park. James Myford Irvine is the youngest grandson to the late James Irvine II who inherited about 115,000 acres in what is now Orange County, California and formed The Irvine Company and the James Irvine Foundation. He is the son of the late Myford and Gloria Irvine. Myford Irvine was the President of The Irvine Company for eleven years and the President of the James Irvine Foundation for 24 years beginning when it was established in 1937 until his death in 1959. In 2017 the James Irvine Foundation awarded over 90 million dollars to worthy charities in California. www.Irvine.org. Irvine spent 14 years (1978-1992) involved in Broadcast Network Television and was the Founder and President of Orange Coast Videos which was a successful network television movie facilities company for high end, high demand, live network television productions. His clients included, ABC, NBC, CBS Sports, Summer Olympics 1984, Boxing, Academy Awards, Golden Globe Awards, Emmy Awards and the Rose Parade to name a few. He also was an active partner in a 41-acre winery in Napa Valley, California that produced over 30,000 cases of award winning wines. Because of his fascination with trains, he was an active partner in the Arizona and California Railroad. Currently, he is a business man and real estate investor. Jim has two children from a previous marriage. Susan R. Jeske is the daughter of the late Charles and Denise Jeske of Littleton, Colorado. She was crowned Ms. America 1997 at the Luxor Hotel in Las Vegas winning $75,000 in cash and prizes. In 1999, she purchased the Ms. America Pageant and became its CEO. Since then she has grown the pageant into an institution that attracts high-achieving women from all walks of life to vie for the title and put it to philanthropic use. In 2004, Susan was honored with the Presidential Service Lifetime Achievement Award from the President of the United States for her lifetime contributions to charity and volunteerism. www.SusanJeske.com. The couple plans to marry at the Irvine Ranch Historic Park (Jamboree Road and Irvine Boulevard) which is where the original Irvine family home was and is now the Katie Wheeler Library (named after James’s Aunt). Irvine was raised in the home as a young boy. He will be the last Irvine that lived in the mansion, who will be married there. The park is part of the OC Parks family of historic parks and is the original headquarters of the Irvine Ranch started by James Irvine II. The 16-acre property was donated by The Irvine Company to the County of Orange and made into a historic park for all to enjoy. In 2015, six of the historic structures were restored and a dedication ceremony was held with the Irvine family members present. www.OCParks. com. James and Susan met in 1992 through a mutual friend and dated for six years. Then, call it life getting in the way or just wrong timing, they went their separate ways. In 2011 they met again and renewed their relationship as they were both single and still felt that spark between them. Then after dating for four years, James popped the question when he took Susan to the Balboa Bay Club to watch the Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade. The evening was romantic as can be, with champagne, roses, candles, chocolate dipped strawberries and a beautiful sunset. As the parade got underway, fireworks lite up the sky, James got down on one knee to ask Susan to marry him. She broke out in tears of happiness and said yes! They are making their home in the beautiful “BellaTiara” in Orange County; socializing with their neighbors with several hosted parties. Decorating for the holidays is Susan’s specialty as she loves to make people happy when they see the lights and creations that adorn their home. After the wedding, they plan to take a combination vacation/honeymoon, destination unknown as they love to explore new places. Page 12
The Ladera Ranch News
The Ladera Ranch News
James and Susan with a Golden Eagle at the Orange County Zoo located at the Irvine Regional Park. Photo credit Daniel Pham.
Susan and James attend a Halloween Party 2017 at Disneyland as Beauty and Beast. Photo credit Disneyland.
Susan Jeske winning Ms. James M. Irvine standing in the America 1997 at the Luxor Hotel family garden outside the original in Las Vegas. Irvine family home.
Ms. America 2017 with Ms. International 2017 and Ms. America International 2017 with CEO of the Ms. America Pageant Susan Jeske. Photo credit Daniel Pham.