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James F. Trees

James Trees Obituary

James F. Trees Age 69, passed away June 2, 2008 in Tiburon, CA. Jim Trees was a true renaissance man, a successful financier, rancher and conservationist. Jim received his PHD from Harvard in international finance and soon after founded and became chairman and chief executive officer of Fischer, Francis, Trees & Watts, Inc., a New York investment firm with discretionary management of funds for leading universities, pension funds and foreign governments. Jim served on the faculty of Harvard Business School, and was a member of the Harvard faculty research team on the Central American Common Market. During those years he also independently organized a 500 unit low-income housing development for the Indigenous Peoples of Guatemala. While in New York he was a director of Lombard Odier, Ltd. (in London), a director of the Group for South Fork (a conservation organization for Eastern Long Island), a trustee of the C.J. Jung Foundation for Analytical Psychology. At age 40, Jim left New York to pursue his passion for conservationism and the outdoors. In 1981 Jim built Trees Ranch, and Springdale Fruit Co., the first organic apple orchard in Utah. In June, 1992, he formed, and until his death, was CEO of BrianHead Resort, Inc. which owns and operates the largest ski and summer resort in southern Utah. In 1985 Jim founded and chaired the Grand Canyon Trust, an organization devoted to the restoration and protection of the Colorado Plateau and Grand Canyon. In 1997, as a single father he moved with his two young children from his ranch in Utah to San Francisco. He served six years as trustee of the their school, the Katherine Delmar Burke School where he chaired the Board's Master Plan committee. His totality as a visionary, creator, outdoorsman, businessman and devoted father made Jim bigger than life to his countless friends across the country. Jim is survived by his two daughters, Willow and Sierra; a brother, Jack and sister, Joanne both of Lake Forest, IL. Private services were held. Donations may be made to the Grand Canyon Trust.

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Published by San Francisco Chronicle on Jun. 8, 2008.

Memories and Condolences
for James Trees

Sponsored by Jim Grise.

19 Entries

Jamie Fee

June 2, 2023

Jamie Fee

June 2, 2023

Jamie Fee

June 2, 2023

Jamie Fee

June 2, 2023

Jim and I shared Gibson Beach, Jim's Gibson Beach on which he 'allowed' the building of these sculptures over the years. I celebrate him, his warmth, and his two beautiful daughters who are now launched into the world. I imagine they hold him dear and close in their hearts and may, occasionally, think back at their time in Sagaponack.

J. Murph Yule

July 14, 2022

I truly got to know Jim professionally and personally assisting Jim with the asset management and marketing and disposition of Brian Head Resort as well as his ranch. To say Jim was full of life and lived life to the fullest is an understatement! You know the cup was always half full and never half empty!! A true visionary and in a lot of way lived life like me both professionally and personally. Our friendship grew over the years along with our dreams for Brian Head Resort and the Farm and the house in SF. As much as he loved challenges and looked at the big picture his first love was always his two daughters. I was shocked to learn of Jim's death. We were planning to get together while I was in SF and attend one of our great restaurant dinners when I received the tragic news. May Jim find eternal peace and comfort. And I know he was continue to watch over his lovely daughters, Willow and Sierra.

Jim Grise

June 2, 2019

Jim Trees continues to be an inspiration and influence on my life, all these years later, as I'm sure he still is for many people who were fortunate to have known him. His confidence, smile, compassion and respect for everyone, all of those qualities of his are unforgettable.

Mary Bodzy (Varn)

May 16, 2009

I found out today after all this time that Jim passed away while searching on the Springdale Fruit Company website. I was their nanny for two years for his girls in San Francisco. Jim was a devoted father who only wanted the best for his family. I live far away now on the east coast, but my thoughts are closely with his two girls. I cannot imagine what they must be going through. If anyone knows where they are I would like to send a card.

Richard

January 20, 2009

I only met him once, when we bought his house in SF, but he made a wonderful impression. The house was so oriented for the kids, and it was clearly a happy place. I always meant to have lunch with him again, and am sorry that will never happen. From everyone I know that knew him, they only spoke the best about him. I feel terribly sorry for the girls; their father clearly loved them so much.

Collin Hunt

July 20, 2008

We're all going to miss you Uncle Jim, every year we looked forward to coming out and seeing you guys out at the beach house.

Mary Golder Golder

July 7, 2008

Jim and I met for the first time in 50 years for lunch with mutual friends last year. It was a wonderful reunion He spoke so lovingly of his daughters. For those of you who knew him as an adult, you are very fortunate to have such a good friend. To me he will always be that skinny legged , smiling kid on the Glencoe beach with Dick, Peter Yager, Donna and all the gang.He lives on in our hearts and we are the better for it.

Belle von der Goltz

June 23, 2008

My husband Johan met Jim in Guatemala over 40 yrs ago, and spoke with him 2 days before he passed away-we were supposed to spend more time in Sagaponack this summer with him and were all looking so forward to it! Jim was an amazing man,friend,father-we are still in shock at this loss,we loved him so much!We will always be there for WIllow and Sierra.

RACHELLE CUOMO

June 14, 2008

I HAD THE HONOR OF WORKING FOR JIM IN BRAIN HEAD A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO, EVEN THOUGH IT SEEMS LIKE IT WAS ONLY YESTERDAY. I WAS SHOCKED AND SADDENED TO HEAR THE NEWS OF HIS PASSING. HE WAS AND WILL REMAIN ONE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE IN MY LIFE. I WOULD NEVER BE WHERE I AM TODAY IN MY CAREER WITHOUT THE FAITH AND TRUST THAT HE SHOWED IN ME. I CHERISH THE MEMORIES OF THOSE YEARS WORKING SO CLOSELY AND THE WONDERFUL FRIENDSHIP THAT WE SHARED. HE WILL BE TRULY MISSED BY SO MANY, NOT ONLY PERSONALLY, BUT PROFESSIONALLY.

Jamie Fee

June 12, 2008

I came to know Jim over the past twenty years in Sagaponack and while we were only casual friends I loooked forward each year to seeing him in his house on the beach. We would catch up, measure the time in the growth of our children and wonder of the world. Always the wonder of the world. To a gentleman, a friend, and admirable person whom I am proud to have known and whose life force is not extinguished but lives on quite beautifully transformed in his two children, Willow and Sierra.

Lynn Ramblas Killips

June 12, 2008

I am deeply saddened to hear of Jim's passing. I'm still in disbelief. I had just seen him the week prior and he was so happy and full of life. He was a gentle, loving, and compassionate man and I will miss him dearly. My heart goes out to Willow and Sierra and hope they will take comfort in knowing how much he loved them and how devoted he was to them.

Bud Fischer

June 11, 2008

A long time employee of Jim's at his Brian Head Resort, I knew him to be a sometimes difficult man to keep up with. Jim kept all of us up here working through many periods when his better judgment probably told him that layoffs were in order. He arranged for the funding of projects that similarly-sized resorts can only dream of. He took care of his own - and that included a lot of people.
Jim was a man who knew exactly what he wanted - and who would settle for nothing less. In business and in life, there's a lot to be said for that.
We will all miss his leadership.

Sheila Giannini-Ruprecht

June 11, 2008

I got to know Jim through my husband, Richard Hirsch. They were classmates at New Trier Township High School in Winnetka, Illinois. I admired Jim's dedication and devotion to his two daughters, and his boundless energy. He was a man with a vision, and a man with great respect for life. I am saddened with the thought that he is gone. He spiritually touched many people, and hopefully, that spirit will live on.

Hanna Romley

June 10, 2008

For those of us who knew Jim Trees we all knew that he was a generous and kind man who loved living his life. He loved his two daughters and so did I. Sierra was one of my best friends and I can only imagine what she is going through right now. Jim Trees was the kind of person who would lend you a helping hand if you hand fallen down. I know that a number of people will miss him, and among that number is Lauren Arnold. I know that we will all miss his laughter and the joy that he out into the world. However I believe that right now the best way to celebrate his life is to celebrate the way he lived it. By enjoying the memories we have of him and not to dwell on the memories we won't.

linda francke

June 10, 2008

What shocking, horrible news for those of us in Sagaponack who knew and loved Jim. I can't believe such a life force is gone. My deepest sympathies to Willow and Sierra and to Jack and Joanne. Sagaponack is grieving with you.

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