James John Curtis
June 18, 1935-July 23, 2011
Mountain View, California

James John Curtis, loving father and husband died peacefully at his home on the morning of July 23, 2011, from complications of a year-long fight against lung cancer at the age of 76.

Jim was born in St. Charles, Mo., in 1935 and brought his wife, Kita, to California in 1960 to start a new life. He was a stockbroker in San Francisco until he started his own company called the Energy Efficient Mortgage Company that facilitated energy improvement on new home purchases.

Jim was an active member of the Palo Alto Tennis Club for many years. He loved to watch basketball, listen to jazz, go to the theatre and pursue his interest in history and the arts. He also liked to rail at the "Talking Heads" on the News, as he called it.

Jim delighted in organizing athletic gatherings called the J&K Pentathlon for a close set of friends. He was a talented story and joke teller and loved to dazzle people with his slight of hand skills in card magic. Jim had a twinkle in his eye and a generous spirit of fun that he shared with those around him. His skills in the kitchen as a chef and dessert maker are legendary. Jim never lost his positive outlook on life.

Jim is survived by Kita, his wife of 51 years, his family Richard, Steven, David and Margaret Curtis, Shelly, Jon, David and Billy Pargh, and his extended family Kathleen Quaife, Max and Curtis Hodge.

A celebration of Jim's life will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 1 in the garden of Jack and Ruth Letts, 439 Lincoln Ave., Palo Alto. Memories of Jim by family and friends will begin at 2 p.m.