ITAA Obituaries

John James, a psychotherapist, educator and theologian who helped people find meaning and mission in their lives, and who wrote eloquently about connections between people and his own strong ties to nature, has died.

He spent his last days of life at his home in Lafayette, coping with cancer and finding peace in the love of his family. He is survived by his wife, Ibis Schlesinger-James, his three children - Ian, Mathew and Gabriella - and others including his mother, Muriel James, and his grandson, Kaelan.

His accomplishments were numerous and varied throughout his life. He led workshops with people and organizations, taught meditation, was fascinated with sports psychology and authored four books, including "Physicians Survival Guide to Litigation Stress" and "Passion for Life: Psychology and the Human Spirit."

He was an ordained minister with a deep appreciation of many religious traditions, and his doctoral thesis in 2001 focused on Martin Buber's "I and Thou" spiritual philosophy. It was a central, guiding ideal in his life, and one he applied beautifully: having a positive presence for genuine, open dialogue with others - being present for a true meeting of souls that can reveal touches of the divine. One of the first pages of his dissertation included the single phrase: "We all shape each other."

And John had a profound impact on so many lives - the way he valued others, the way he made people laugh, the way he communed with nature. He believed in the importance of people taking time to be silent and still without distractions, to be in touch with our deepest selves, with the earth and with the divine.

A memorial service to celebrate his life will be held at Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian Church at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 12.

Those who wish to honor his memory with a donation may give to Ties to the World, an organization he strongly believed in and supported. It was founded by his wife, Ibis, and focuses on helping orphanages become self-sustaining. www.tiestotheworld.org