James J. Curtis III passed on June 30, 2019. Known to everyone except his family as "Curtis," he was the oldest of six children and grew up in the Chicago suburbs where he learned his refreshingly direct and unpretentious style.

Evidencing his life-long capacity for hard work, Curtis worked summers in a steel mill while he obtained his BS from Marquette University. After Marquette, he earned an MS in Real Estate and Urban Land Economics from the University of Wisconsin's prestigious school of Business. Moving to San Francisco in the late seventies, he was a wunderkind with Bank of America's real estate investment group, purchasing and selling commercial properties across the country on its behalf. Vaulting from that success, in 1980 he co-founded Bristol Group, one of the nation's top real estate investment and development firms. Among his company's many award-winning projects, Curtis was most proud of his redevelopment of six square blocks in downtown Los Angeles, converting the former Unocal Oil headquarters into Los Angeles Center Studios, a twenty acre major movie and television studio and entertainment campus; and his instrumental involvement in converting a dilapidated neighborhood in Washington DC to the now thriving NOMA district.

Far more than a businessman, Curtis gave back to his community, his colleges and his industry in many ways, being incredibly generous with not only his money but his time. He took two years away from running Bristol Group to chair (on an unpaid basis) the Urban Land Foundation, a real estate non-profit institution dedicated to improving the built environment through education. He was also a Trustee and Foundation Governor of the Urban Land Institute (ULI) and a lifetime member of the University of Wisconsin Graaskamp Center for Real Estate, which awarded him a Lifetime Achievement Award. He also received the Counselors of Real Estate Landauer/White Lifetime Achievement Award.

Intensely passionate about every aspect of his life, Curtis loved his real estate projects, ULI, his other industry, charitable and community involvements, art collecting, and sports but, most of all, he loved his family and many friends. He is survived by his wife, Melodie Duke, his parents, Clare Curtis and Jim Curtis, his sisters, Kelly Gibbel, Mary Mahoney and Anne Metzger, his brothers, Rob and Tom Curtis, and 18 nephews and nieces.

Curtis will be missed by one and all.

Memorial Services are pending and contributions in his honor may be made to St. Anthony's Foundation/ www.stanthonysf.org

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by San Francisco Chronicle from Jul. 3 to Jul. 7, 2019.

Memories and Condolences
for James Curtis

20 Entries

Susan McKenna

May 5, 2023

Mike and I were both Marquette friends of Curtis. Always loved him. Mike passed in May of 2022 so happy to hear Curtis and Bob Gallagher are up there with him. Curtis was such a great guy and remember the weekend his parents came up! So fun! Love you and miss you forever Curtis.

Ray Williams Family Downingtown, PA

June 28, 2022

We remember Curtis at a special prayer service every Monday as we promised we would. Curtis meant a lot to several of our family. How can one forget!

Melodie Duke

June 27, 2022

My deepest heartfelt gratitude to all of you who shared your love and thoughts about Curtis/Jim/Jimmy. He is greatly missed by so many of us.

Patricia Cole Crowley

September 10, 2021

I just learned of Jimmy´s passing. I am so sad to hear of this loss. Jimmy and I were friends in Clarendon Hills in the 50s. Always the sweetest boy. Rest In Peace.

Ray & Pat Williams

June 29, 2020

Being from the Philadelphia area our three son's (David, John & Tom) and daughter Lynda knew nothing of Curtis until their professional careers began. Due to employment, transfers and travels, meeting Jim and getting to know him became a part of their San Francisco life. Eventually we all considered him a family friend. For Mom and Dad, unable to attend the funeral, with his prayer card in hand, we promised that we would always remember him. Each Monday that promise is carried out during our Prayer Adoration from 1 to 2:00 PM at St. Elizabeth Church in Eagle, PA. Curtis, rest in peace.

Alan Billingsley

June 27, 2020

Jim was an incredibly smart person and had such a way with people. He always made me feel like I was really smart and had alot to offer. I was no match for Jim!

Britten Shuford

August 16, 2019

Curtis lived a truly admirable life and paved the path for a new generation of real estate investment professionals. I met Jim 13 years ago and would sometimes meet him in San Francisco when I was in town to ask for business advice. Curtis was always kind, thoughtful, direct and extremely insightful.

He was generous with his time and always gracious in sharing his wisdom (along with a joke with his fantastic sense of humor).

Curtis spoke passionately about how real estate development, when done right, could have a major positive impact on communities and actually improving lives.

Curtis was a man of high integrity and values, which were on display in his daily life.

I am grateful for the time Curtis spent with me and the many lessons will stay with me.

Britten Shuford

August 15, 2019

Jim, you were not just one of a kind, you were also quite kind.
Truly this world is a bit dimmer with your passing.
You will truly be missed by all that knew you.
Brian Kraft

Eric Wilcox

August 15, 2019

Jimmy was literally the FIRST person I met in the real estate business at the start of my career. He gave me sage advice then, and much more over the decades. And every time, we would share a laugh about something - and usually it was HIM cracking me up with his wry sense of humor. He is a true legend in the business, unlike any other. I was so saddened to learn of this, and he will be missed by many, many people. Godspeed, Curtis...

Catherine McKinley

August 3, 2019

Jim was friendly and funny, especially with his "duck call" which he (jokingly) offered to utilize as an intermission end notice for the 1971 Montini High School Spring Musical. It's title was 'Celebration." The script encouraged people to, not only appreciate, but celebrate every precious day as Jim, clearly, did.

Cindy Schmidt

July 20, 2019

Jimmy joe was a big part of my life. I didnt get much of him in the last years, but he will never leave my heart.
Melodie, thank you for being there for him, I am sure this last year has not been easy. Sending my love. Cindy Schmidt

Curtis is my long time friend that I met in 1979! I moved away with Cindy to the Northwest and didnt see him much. Like old friends,every time I saw him there was a comfort level that time away could not erase. Curtis was a special person who loved life and the people around him. He was one of those rare friends that was brutally honest with an underlying compassion. He lived life his way with no excuses and I loved him for that. It was a privilege to know him and his spirit and memory will always be with me. David Schmidt

July 19, 2019

Curtis was such a big part of my early years in SF. So much fun to hang out with, dare I mention the notorious Wisconsin lunches? So happy to be able to have claimed Curtis as my friend, so sad he is gone. My condolences to Mel and his whole family, such a big loss
Kristin O'Keeffe

July 17, 2019

The Ray and Pat Williams family extend our sincere condolences to the Curtis family at this time of their heartbroken loss. Jim (Curtis as we knew him) was an admired business influence for many of our family, including my bother Jim and sons David, John, Tom and daughter Lynda. Thru them we were privileged to meet Curtis during our visits to San Francisco. These included some Thanksgiving dinners and time spent at the Balboa and the Olympic Club. We would be missing a very important point in the life of our family if we didn't point out in a special way his business association with David and John. Knowing Curtis was a friendship we treasured and looked forward to, we'll always remember Jim Curtis in our prayers.

July 15, 2019

Curtis - you remain one of the guiding lights in my real estate life and of course on the larger stage as well. Will miss you!
Rick Putnam

Steve Dallura

July 10, 2019

Jim your wisdom and direct approach will truly be missed. Thanks for telling me how it is over the years.

Roger deSouza

July 9, 2019

Curtis was always supportive of my life as a golf pro at the OC.

He was intelligent, kind and very generous.

My prayers and thoughts go out to Melodie and the entire family,

May all of you find peace.

ALAN BILLINGSLEY

July 9, 2019

Jim was always there for me during my career, always with a huge smile. He was very funny. I will really miss him.

Nick DeFino

July 7, 2019

Jim was my college roommate at Marquette, starting in Fall,1971. We became friends quickly, simply, no BS.We helped each other deal with life. We learned from each other.. Our relationship has always been real, authentic; we would sit up at night and rip the world apart, we had answers for it all. We disagreed at times but always respected each other.When I met Mary Lou, he respected and loved her as well, and was our choice for Best Man at our wedding.

Our lives together included so many great times, living at 934 N 14th., Marquette Basketball, Ski trips, bike rides across the Golden Gate, breakfast in Sausalito, injuries, discovering SF, discussing real estate, politics, art, etc.He shared his homes in SF and Colorado with us. He was there to support me whenever, especially after my knee replacement and attended my retirement unannounced.
.
Jim had no fear, and was always willing to share his opinion. He grew so much at UW and then developed a greater appreciation of others when he moved to California. He continually pushed himself beyond his comfort zone.
He knew our children and offered a helping hand whenever and wherever, always treating them as responsible people, and challenging them on their plans.
We cherished our past, but seldom discussed it, We generally focused on the future, making plans. He recently provided some advice to my son, Louis.

The advice Jim had for Lou was simple but tough, to paraphrase his thoughts; As you look at life and new job opportunities, you should focus on what is meaningful to you, how you want to change the world. If money is the driver, then you have to create value for whoever you work for over and above others .

During our recent visit with Curtis we were overwhelmed with emotion, simply devastated. We talked about life and avoided discussing his condition which he faced with strength and courage. confined to a wheelchair, he was visibly weak and fatigued. As we left, he yelled out, as he pointed to a painting on the wall, That's Bilbao,,a masterpiece of architecture that housed the fine art that he appreciated and loved deeply.

We left and cried our eyes out.

Our hearts go out to Melodie,Jim's parents and siblings.

Nick and Mary Lou DeFino

Lloyd Hanford

July 4, 2019

My most heartfelt condolences to the entire family of Jim Curtis. I met him when he first arrived in San Francisco and found him to be one of the brightest young men I had met. That belief continued for as long as I knew him. For me he was always the "go to" man when I needed the answer to a tough real estate question and always enjoyed working with him but most enjoyed his easy intellectualism and the joy it was to discuss things with him. The world just lost a bright star.

July 4, 2019

I will miss his sense of humor, extreme generosity and how kind he was to everyone he encountered.
May he rest in peace.

Peggy Sulkowski

Showing 1 - 20 of 20 results