James Joseph Cotter Jr.

James Joseph Cotter, Jr., "Jim", 51, beloved husband of Gina Taylor Cotter and devoted father of Sophia, Brooke, and James III, passed away on March 10, 2021, after a brave and heroic battle with kidney cancer. He was born on July 16, 1969, in Los Angeles, California to Mary Ellen Cotter and the late James Joseph Cotter, Sr.

In 1987, Jim graduated from Harvard School in Los Angeles, and then attended Brown University where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics. During this time, he studied Italian and cooking in Florence, Italy and developed a love for the city and country. After graduating from Brown, Jim attended New York University where he obtained his Juris Doctor degree and a Master of Laws (LLM) in Taxation. It was his time in New York that led Jim to his soulmate, Gina, at a chance encounter at the Costume Institute Benefit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in the Fall of 1997.

After a legal career in Manhattan specializing in corporate law and practicing at the international law firm Winston & Strawn, Jim dedicated his career to his family's business. He spent many years as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of both the Cotter Orchards and Cecelia Packing Corporation, a Cotter family-owned citrus grower, packer and marketer that controls approximately 2,000 acres of orange groves in the San Joaquin Valley.

Jim joined the Board of Directors of Reading International in 2002, working with his father who was CEO and controlling shareholder. In 2007, he became Vice Chairman and was later appointed President and then CEO. Over the many years at Reading, Jim played an important role in establishing the company as one of the world's leading theatrical exhibition companies and a major real estate company.

Jim was his children's first and best teacher and instilled in them a love of learning. He truly enjoyed the time he spent with his three children home this past year, in particular teaching James III. He was passionate about travel, especially to Italy, and enjoyed both cooking with his children and fine dining. He loved playing backgammon, backyard volleyball with Sophia and Brooke, and most any competitive sport with friends and family. He was a great teammate and a fair player. Jim was a loving family man with a bright and unwavering smile who vibrated with positive energy, even during the most challenging struggles.

Jim is survived by his wife Gina and his three children Sophia, Brooke and James III, his mother Mary Ellen Cotter, and sisters Ellen Marie Cotter and Ann Margaret Cotter.

Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic and regulations, a Celebration of Life in Jim's honor will be held at a later time. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to MD Anderson Cancer Center at http://mdacc.convio.net/goto/JamesJCotterJr