James Hilary Spalding Jr.

1947 - 2024

James Hilary Spalding, Jr.
05/21/1947 - 05/18/2024
Jim was born in Detroit, Michigan to Jim and Patricia Spalding in May 1947. He grew up with his four sisters: Susie, Julie, Janet and Meripat, along with their dog, Poochie. He loved growing up in the Motor City and seeing all the new models firsthand. He graduated from University of Detroit Jesuit, a Jesuit College Preparatory that remained a point of pride for the rest of his life. He graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in Economics and subsequently remained true to his alma mater by gladly shouting "Go Blue!" to anyone wearing Michigan attire. Jim started his career in public accounting by taking a position with Arthur Young which led to his move to San Francisco in 1969 and his lifelong specialization in film and tape accounting. Highlights of his career include being the CFO of KQED, having his "caboose" office after starting his own tax practice, receiving his Masters in Taxation from Golden Gate University and serving on the Board of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (SF Bay Area) from 1988-2021, earning the Governors' Service Medallion in 1994 and Governors' Citation in 2022 upon his retirement.
As much as Jim loved being a CPA, he certainly loved to goof off too. He enjoyed tending to his roses, cooking, grilling, bike riding, roller blading, painting and spending time in nature. He loved reading, especially westerns and history, and enjoyed golfing with friends, which tended to be a social affair more than a demonstration of skill. Some of his favorite memories were made at Bakers Acres where he made many lifelong friends, when backpacking with friends in the Sierras, when taking hikes across the Golden Gate Bridge or even running the Bay to Breakers. Always an avid explorer, he got a thrill from visiting his family's namesake, Spalding, England, seeing his dad's roots in Kentucky and visiting his kids as they lived in various places outside the Bay Area. He took so much pride in his family, especially watching his kids graduate from Jesuit High School and then subsequently each with bachelor's and master's degrees. He had a blast throwing wedding bashes for his kids but probably was most glad at finally having both kids settle back in the Bay Area and being able to spend his last years close to his kids and grandkids.
Jim was preceded in death by his father, mother and lifelong friends: Tony, Dean and Marshall. He leaves behind his sisters: Susie, Julie, Janet and Meripat; his former wife, Rosemary; their daughters: Hilary and Tara; sons-in-law: Daniel and David; and beloved grandchildren: Willa, Maryn and Annabel.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in memory of Jim to one of the following: KQED, University of Detroit Jesuit, or the Alzheimer's Association.