March 2, 1941 – May 10, 2023
James (Jim) Clarence Smith, 82, a real estate executive from Los Altos, died of natural causes at home on May 10, 2023.
Jim was born to George and May (Bloom) Smith on March 2, 1941 in Boise, ID. He was named after his paternal grandfather and his maternal uncle. Jim grew up in Boise but his family would often travel back to Simms, Montana where Jim’s mother was raised on the family homestead. Jim loved family, and he and his numerous cousins stayed close throughout their lives. Jim graduated from Boise High School and received degrees from Boise State University and San Jose State University, where he first fell in love with life in the Bay Area.
After graduation, Jim worked in sales with Xerox Corporation, then entered industrial real estate brokerage with Grubb & Ellis and Renault & Handley. Jim had many passions outside the office; often entertaining friends at his Los Altos home, visiting relatives and hunting in Montana, skiing black diamonds, playing his trumpet with the Los Trancos Community Marching Band, and discussing politics and history.
Over the decades, Jim owned dozens of classic automobiles and had a passion for and encyclopedic knowledge of firearms. He was a voracious reader on a multitude of subjects. Always dressed to the nines for every occasion, Jim maintained a positive attitude with a dry sense of humor that people appreciated. He had a strong sense of fairness and was quick to come to a friend’s aid. Jim was a loyal member of E. Clampus Vitus and a decades long regular at Rossotti’s Alpine Inn in Portola Valley. He will be missed by many friends.
Jim is survived by nieces Belinda Schober and Leslie Smith, and nephew Michael Smith; cousins Pamela LaRocque Johnson, Russ Bloom, Doug Bloom, Tricia Martinez, Kristina Denning, Riley Denning, Steve Mangold, Scott Mangold, Todd Mangold, Marcie Mangold and Dean Hamilton. He was preceded in death by his parents George Smith and May Bloom Smith; brother Glenn Smith; and cousins Don Bloom, Robert Bloom, Dorothy Mangold, Elerine LaRocque, Marie Denning, Larry LaRocque, and Ted Denning.
A gathering celebrating Jim’s life will be conducted Saturday, August 12th from 12:00- 4:00 PM at the Palo Alto Elk’s Lodge. If planning to attend, please email RSVP to [email protected].