James Halow

Jim died March 18 at home at age 72 after a seven-month battle with pancreatic cancer. Jim had time during the progress of this disease to receive and reflect on the love and adoration of his family and so many others he had influenced, mentored and touched during his life. Jim used this interval to tell life stories with humor, giving his final guidance and personal philosophy to his children, daughter-in-law, and close nieces and nephews. Jim was born in Altoona PA and grew up in Chevy Chase MD. He graduated in engineering from Carnegie Tech University and was awarded his Ph. D. in physics from Catholic University of America. He taught physics at Drexel University before entering Stanford Business School for his MBA. Jim founded Trinity Capital Corporation, which he ran with his wife, Donna, for several decades. He took personal pride in the long-term continuity of one hundred employees and the equipment financing of hundreds of thousands of small businesses throughout the United States. Jim lived a wonderful life and enjoyed his work, his family and friends and his many passions including basketball, tennis, mathematics and golf. He was a respected coach for the boys and their friends throughout their lives and inspiration to many. The wonderment and fullness of the many phases of Jim's life came together in his final months. Ongoing calls and letters from his Chevy Chase friends helped recall and shape the happy memories and great depth of their friendships of over half a century. His long-time friends from Stanford Business School were staunchly here with him throughout his illness. Jim's love and work for the University High School basketball team, and the boys he influenced there, was memorialized in a heart-felt video tribute by one of its great players. The many notes, videos and calls from the staff and clients at Trinity brought Jim right back into that close circle of colleagues. His neighbors, tennis buddies, golf buddies, and friends--from family life in San Francisco to retirement living in Sonoma--reminded Jim on a daily basis how much he was an ongoing part of their lives. Jim is survived by his wife of 37 years, Donna, sons James and Michael, daughter-in-law, Gina, his brother, Joe (Elisabeth), sisters Eva (Arnold), Mary, and Gloria (Osama), Donna's family, Evelyn (John), Kris (Carol) and Janet (Frank), nine very close and beloved nieces and nephews, and his close cousin, Linda. Jim has joined his father and cherished mother, two brothers, George and Fred, and his most beloved niece, Michelle. Friends are invited to celebrate Jim's life at 11:00am on Friday, March 23 at St. Leo's Church, 601 W. Aqua Caliente Road, Sonoma, with a reception following at the Sonoma Golf Club. Memorial donations may be made to Salesian Boys and Girls Club in San Francisco (www.salesianclub.org) or the Valley of the Moon Boys and Girls Club College Bound program (www.bgcsonoma).