JAMES STARRS

1930 - 2021

James Edward Starrs  
On June 26, James Edward Starrs, husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother, uncle, professor, author, friend, and raconteur, passed away surrounded by beloved family and friends. Jim was born to parents George T. Starrs and Mildred Agatha Starrs (Dobbins) in Brooklyn, NY on July 30, 1930. After enlisting in the U.S. Army in 1950 and serving in the Korean War, he completed his bachelor's, LL.B., and LL.M. degrees. Jim took up a teaching position at George Washington University's National Law Center in 1964, which was followed by a joint appointment at the university's Columbian School of Arts and Sciences' Forensic Sciences Department in 1980. He continued teaching criminal law and forensic science courses to law and graduate students for more than four decades. Beyond the classroom, Jim volunteered as a civil rights lawyer in Alabama and Mississippi in 1965 and 1966. He took students on campouts during visits to federal prisons, completed several cross-country bicycle trips with his family, and published numerous works, including the Scientific Sleuthing newsletter, academic papers, and books. Jim will be lovingly remembered by Barbara, his wife of 67 years; his children Mary Alice, Monica, James, Charles, Gregory, Liam, Barbara, Siobhan, and William; and their families, including 17 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Jim will also be remembered by his brother Charles Starrs, and was preceded by brother George T. Starrs, Jr. (dec). Jim's life will be celebrated on July 6 from 2 until 4 p.m. and 6 until 8 p.m. at Fairfax Memorial Funeral Home, and at a funeral mass on July 7 at 10:30 a.m. at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Annandale, Virginia. He will be buried at 1:30 p.m. on July 7 at Quantico National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in Jim's name may be made to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) at www.nami.org.