James Latter

James Michael Latter
Sept 26, 1965-March 26, 2012
James Michael Latter passed away on March 26 at his home in Saratoga due to complications related to cancer. His closest family members and long time friends were at his side. He was 46.
Jim is the son of Lou Ann Latter of Saratoga and his late father, Don Latter. He is survived by his wonderful wife, Denise Emmite Latter and their beautiful daughter, Jessica Michelle. He is also survived by his brother Dave Latter of Scottsdale, AZ and his sister Susan of Santa Clara. He leaves behind many close friends who have expressed their love for Jim through the following website at CaringBridge, caringbridge.org/visit/JimLatter.
Jim lived his life with unparalleled enthusiasm and will be remembered first as a loving husband of six years to Denise and a doting and affectionate father to five year old Jessica. He was truly an amazing person who had a natural gift of making others feel as if they were the only person important to him. The impending result was he had more best friends than he could count. He energized the room as soon as he entered and had the inherent ability to make others feel comfortable and smile. An intensely loyal friend full of passion and energy, Jim was always the one who ensured you would remember your time spent with him regardless if it was during a pick up basketball game, at his home where he loved to display his delicious culinary skills, watching his beloved Vikings at the local watering hole, or volunteering with him in one of his many charitable causes. Jim will be remembered for his infectious sense of humor who was full of practical jokes and would do virtually anything to get others to laugh.
Jim was born in Denver, CO and spent much of his early childhood in Minnesota. It's during that time that he swore his undying allegiance to the Twins and Vikings, even going so far as naming two of his yellow labs after the team's star players, as well as naming a bar that he once owned, Kirby's Sports Bar, after his favorite Twins player. Jim was an outstanding all around athlete with unrivaled competitiveness and starred at Lynbrook High School in football, basketball, and baseball, earning varsity letters and honors in all three sports. He graduated college from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo where he also played football and was a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. Most recently Jim was an avid and talented racquetball player and won several nationally recognized tournaments.
Jim worked in outside sales for most of his adult life and was also an owner of several local bars and restaurants, including Kirby's Sports Bar in Fremont and Sharkey's in Willow Glen. Nothing made Jim happier than serving a beer and cooking smoked salmon pasta for his friends that came in. He was also very involved in numerous charitable causes, beginning with his association with the Special Olympics while still in college. Recently, he raised money and was recognized locally by the Lucille Packard Foundation for Charitable Health for playing a nine hour racquetball match where the first player to score 500 points would win.
Friends and family are invited to a Celebration of Jim's Life at Saratoga Presbyterian Church at 5pm on Saturday, April 7. The address is 20455 Herriman Avenue in Saratoga, across from Saratoga High School.
In lieu of flowers or gifts, please consider contributions toward a college fund for Jim and Denise's daughter, Jessica. Please make all checks out to UBS Financial and mail to UBS Private Wealth Management, c/o Todd Locicero, 2000 Avenue of the Stars, 7th Floor North, Los Angeles, CA, 90067. In the memo section of the check, please write "Jessica Latter 529."