James Kitch
June 20, 1947-July 18, 2025
Atherton, California
James Charles Kitch was born on June 20, 1947, in Wichita, Kansas, to Paul and Josephine (Pridmore) Kitch.
Jim grew up in Wichita and graduated from Wichita East High School where he starred on the golf team and spent weekends working on the family farm. He went on to attend Harvard University, where he wrote for The Crimson and graduated magna cum laude. He then attended Stanford Law School, where he was a proud member of the Law Review.
After law school, Jim began his legal career clerking for Justice John Paul Stevens on the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago. Justice Stevens remained a guiding influence in Jim’s life, both professionally and personally.
In 1979, Jim met the love of his life, Christine (Chris) Brown, from Rye, New York and married the same year. After living in San Francisco they soon moved to the Peninsula, where Jim helped open the Silicon Valley office of Cooley Godward.
Jim was a devoted husband, a loving father, and a loyal friend. He cherished his family deeply and was always there with quiet strength, steady wisdom, and a kind word. He loved golf—had two hole-in-ones!—and treasured his time on the course with friends. Jim had a gentle spirit, an incredibly brilliant mind, and a gift for one-liners that could brighten anyone’s day. He never had a harsh word to say and was the kind of person you felt lucky to know.
His faith and community were important to him. He was a longtime member of Holy Trinity Church and served as Chairman of the Child and Family Institute for more than 35 years. He also served as a trustee of Crystal Springs Uplands School and was a member of Menlo Circus Club, Sharon Heights, and the Palo Alto Club.
Jim spent his entire 44-year legal career at Cooley Godward, where he was not only a deeply respected attorney, but also a beloved colleague and friend. He truly loved his work, and the people he worked alongside. In contrast to Jim's frenetic work pace, at home he enjoyed simple pleasures—working on a puzzle, watching the Weather Channel, reading The Economist front to back, rooting for his beloved Stanford sports teams, and a nice glass of red wine.
Jim fought a brave and tireless battle with Lewy Body Dementia. Through it all, he remained the same kind, steady, and gracious man we all knew and loved. He is survived by his wife, Chris; their children, Peter (Mari), Drew, and Cindy; his brothers, Ed (Gail), Tom (Sally), and David (Mary); and many beloved nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his brother Pete (Diane), whose memory he carried with him.
A celebration of Jim’s life will be held on Thursday, September 4th at 10 a.m. at Holy Trinity Church in Menlo Park, California. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks that any donations be made to the Child and Family Institute-Menlo Park, CA or another cause close to your heart.
