About Friends of the Castle Green

Friends of the Castle Green was formed in 1993 as a support group for the historic Castle Green built in 1898 and designed by the noted architect Frederick Louis Roehrig as the first annex to the very successful Green Hotel which had been built on the opposite side of Raymond Avenue. The purpose of the Friends was to raise funds for historic restoration to the standards of the Secretary of Interior and to raise awareness of the significance and beauty of this important building in the history of Pasadena. Over the years, mostly through public tours of the building, Friends of the Castle Green has completed many projects on the building, including work on the lanterns on the veranda and the sunroom, reproduced by the Seattle glass artist Janusz Pozniak. Earlier the Friends had the metal lanterns reproduced by local metal artisan Rinauldo’s Reproduction.

Our current focus is on the restoration and painting of the three domes—two on the roof and one at the end of the bridge. Work on the bridge dome was completed in 2024. Raising funds for this project will be a multiyear endeavor.

Image: Castle Green Sunset Proof by Yoshiko Yamamoto

Remembering James Marrin

“I am passionate about the preservation of historic sites. It is an honor to live in the Castle Green, one of the most outstanding historic buildings on the West coast. I believe that it is important to make sure that such an extraordinary building is preserved for future generations to come.” - Jim Marrin

As a founding member and Board Chair, Jim led Friends of the Castle Green for more than 30 years. Honor his remarkable legacy with a gift to Friends of the Castle Green — help safeguard this extraordinary landmark and ensure it endures for generations to come.

You can make a tax-deductible donation to our 501(c)(3) nonprofit via Zelle, by scanning the QR code below while in your banking app.

If you prefer you may make a check out to Friends of the Castle Green and mail it to the address below:

Friends of the Castle Green
99 South Raymond Avenue
Pasadena, CA 91105

James Marrin Obituary

July 14, 1940 - August 19, 2026 A lifelong lover (and fierce defender) of beauty, James Marrin made his mark as a graphic designer, collector, curator, and preservationist.

Born in Inglewood, Jim studied graphic design at UCLA, where he met his wife, Janeen. The couple moved to Pasadena after falling in love with the Gamble House during a 1967 meeting with founding director Randy Makinson. They filled their craftsman bungalow with Arts & Crafts furniture found cheap at swap meets and thrift stores, becoming major lenders to 1974's landmark California Design 1910 exhibit at the Pasadena Center.

Recognizing their paradise was under threat from rapid urbanization, Jim co-founded preservation nonprofit Pasadena Heritage in 1977, designing its logo and branding. He later designed interiors for public tours of Greene & Greene's Blacker and Duncan-Irwin Houses. In 1981, the New York Times profiled the Marrins, noting that they had "created a museum-like environment out of Stickley [furniture] and their bungalow."

Professionally, Jim was a graphic designer at agencies including Chiat/Day/Mojo and Robert Miles Runyon & Associates, where he contributed graphics for the 1984 L.A. Olympics, and taught art at Los Angeles Valley College.

After separating from Janeen, Jim moved to Pasadena's historic Castle Green, turning his collector's eye to early 20th-century photography, mid-century furnishings, and sculpture. He and daughter Erika cofounded Friends of the Castle Green in 1993, later co-directed the gallery ADXX, and served on the Los Angeles Conservancy's Modern Committee ("ModCom").

Jim and Erika's collaborations continued until her death in 2013, and included the design of Makinson's book Greene & Greene: The Passion and the Legacy. Among Jim's greatest works in his later years were his grandchildren - daughter Emily's children, Lucy and Leo - for whom he was a devoted caregiver.

In July 2026, Pasadena Heritage honored Jim among its living co-founders at the kickoff of its 50th anniversary celebration. Of his impact, author and former Gamble House director Ted Bosley later said that Jim "was a big reason Pasadena is what it is - a beautiful place, and proud of it."

Until his death, Jim delighted in welcoming fellow lovers of beauty into his Castle Green apartment, an exuberant celebration of the 20th century. His brilliance, wit, taste, and generosity will be missed by all who knew him, most especially his heartbroken family.

A memorial service will be held at the Castle Green on October 18. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Friends of the Castle Green or Pasadena Heritage.