Mr. James Curtis Rinaman Jr.

February 8, 1935 - January 26, 2024

James Curtis Rinaman, Jr. passed peacefully from this life January 26, 2024, surrounded by his family. Jim was born February 8, 1935 in Miami (Lemon City), Florida, to Dr. James Curtis and Ruth Rader Rinaman. He was a devoted husband to his wife Gloria for more than 65 years, a beloved father and grandfather, a respected attorney, soldier and friend. While his legal, military and civic accomplishments were significant – Jim’s friends and loved ones knew him best as a family man.

When not wearing his work tie or army fatigues, he was known for wearing his silver and turquoise eagle bolo and a white cowboy hat like the one his dad wore. He took delight in spending time with family and friends, in planning and taking trips, enjoying the great outdoors, playing his trumpet, cruising the St. Johns River on his boat Defense Rests, or simply gathering on Sunday afternoon to enjoy supper and an Orange and Blue sunset. He was an avid reader and a lifelong learner. In everything he saw opportunities to teach and learn, read, study and grow. Also of note - you’d never see him in the same room with Santa Claus at his firm’s annual Christmas party.

During WWII, Jim’s father was a POW in Japan and his mother moved the family to St. Cloud, Florida. Jim graduated from high school there at the age of 16, and went on to study political science at the University of Florida (UF). While there, he managed friends’ political campaigns, served as president of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity, and was a member of the R.O.T.C. and Scabbard and Blade, the honors military fraternity. His hard work earned him admittance to Florida Blue Key, the UF leadership fraternity. After graduating in 1955, he served two years in the armored cavalry at Fort Knox, Kentucky, before returning to UF for Law School and meeting his wife Gloria.

After graduating UF law school in 1960, Jim moved to Jacksonville with his wife Gloria and their young son Jimmy so that Jim could “get some experience” in the big city working for Marks, Gray, Yates, Conroy & Gibbs, P.A. Each year he would ask partner Pat Conroy if he had enough experience to return to St. Cloud to work – and Pat always said “no, not yet.” More than fifty-five years later, Jim retired from Marks Gray, P.A., having risen up the ranks to serve as a senior partner and the firm’s longest standing attorney. He distinguished himself as a Florida board certified civil trial lawyer and civil mediator recognized by Best Lawyers in America.

Jim served as president of the Florida Bar, the Jacksonville Bar Association, the Florida Defense Lawyers Association, and the Association of Defense Trial Lawyers. He was an active member of the International Association of Defense Counsel, and a founding member and chair of Lawyers for Civil Justice, Inc., and the Florida Volunteer Lawyers Resource Center.

Jim continued military service in the Florida Army National Guard throughout his career, and ultimately retired as a Brigadier General in 1992. A tanker at heart, highlights of his military service included serving as Commander Company D, 187th Tank Battalion, and Commander of the 146th Signal Battalion, Commander of the Camp Blanding Joint Training Center, and as Commander of the 53rd Signal Brigade supporting the final Return of Forces to Germany (REFORGER) mission to Belgium and Germany around the time the Berlin Wall came down. Jim was awarded the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal, and the Florida Cross.

During the late 1960s, Jim served as counsel for the Duval County Legislative Delegation and for the president of the Florida Senate, John “Jack” Mathews. In 1966, he served on the Local Government Study Commission of Duval County as chair of its public utilities task force, and as a member of the charter drafting committee for Jacksonville Consolidated Government. In 1967, he was chief counsel for the delegation for passage of the charter. He served as general counsel for the Consolidated City of Jacksonville under Mayor Hans Tanzler from 1970-1971, and was a member of the Jacksonville Transportation Authority for nearly a decade.

In service to the community, Jim was a founding member and president of Jacksonville Community Council, Inc. and Leadership Jacksonville, Inc; chairman of the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce; president of the Jacksonville chapter of the March of Dimes; president of the Northeast Florida chapter of the American Red Cross; legal counsel for the Girl Scouts of Gateway Council; and president of Meninak.

Jim and Gloria attended Southside United Methodist Church for more than 50 years, and raised their children in the church. They were also members of San Jose Country Club for more than 50 years.

Jim is survived by his soul mate, best friend, and wife, Gloria Margaret Kaspar Rinaman. He is also survived by their children James Curtis Rinaman III (Beate) and their daughters Julia Katharina Rothweiler (Matthias), Victoria Agnes and Caroline Ruth; Mark Rader Rinaman (Lisa) and their sons Mark Rader and James August; Christine Rinaman Hinrichs (Warren) and their daughters Grace Taylor and Lauren Willow; Karen Rinaman Barakat (Oliver) and their children Oliver John, Amelia Christine and William James; his brother William Kimberly Rinaman (Lana) and their family; his sister Carolyn Rinaman Durak (Mike) and their family; and Linda Johnson (Steve) and Jim Hanson (Ginger), children of his late cousin Mary Jo Hanson, and their families. Jim is preceded in death by his parents Ruth Rader Rinaman and James Curtis Rinaman, M.D.

A memorial service celebrating Jim's life will be held at 1 p.m. on February 10, 2024 at Southside Methodist Church, 3120 Hendricks Avenue. The family extends gratitude to faithful friends and to his outstanding home caregiving team. In lieu of flowers, his wife Gloria requests contributions be made to Southside Methodist Church in Jacksonville.