James Sanford Saffran

1930 - 2015

James Sanford Saffran Born in Kansas City, Missouri on March 25, 1930, the son of Bessie Denebeim Saffran and Harry Saffran and the brother of Bernard, Janice and Barbara. He attended the University of Pennsylvania and the Warton School of Business. With his MBA from Warton, he headed west to California on a motorcycle, a decision that led to both, a legendary sunburn and to marriage with Judith Miller Saffran, a blithe spirit from Los Angeles who was, he well knew, the best thing that ever happened to him. He spent his business career in investment banking, traveling to Cuba, Guam and Japan, and retiring as the President of Stone and Youngberg's Municipal Financing Consultants. His retirement career also included travel: he sought bodies of water for the peace they gave him and the fish they contained; wild places in Canada and New Zealand and Montana gave him good fishing spots and good friends. He could make friends anywhere and with anyone: there are marijuana farmers in Humboldt County with land bordering trout streams, who would no doubt remember him, his green camper van and his bottle of scotch. Although his home was Marin County, California where he died on May 6, 2015, in a sense he never left Kansas City and his complicated family history: he saw shadows of his parents in the faces of his children, Bruce and Lise; returned often to memories of de-tasseling corn on his uncle's farm in Marshall, Missouri and eating blue ribbon barbecue with his nephew Hal Lowenstein. James Saffran had a long marriage, deep friendships, big adventures and more than a few regrets. He didn't play it safe, he didn't hold back and he didn't follow foolish rules. He wanted to be a success and be loved and he was both. He is survived by his wife, Judith; his son Bruce and daughter Lise and their families; and his sister Barbara Stern. Assisted by Monte's Chapel of the Hills, San Anselmo, CA (415) 453-8440