James Robert Blair

James Robert Blair, Jim, passed away October 5, 2016 in Parker, Colorado.Jim was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota on July 11, 1944 to Jerald Blair and Helen Swanson Blair who preceded him in death. He was 72 years old.

Jim is survived by his loving wife of 53 years the end of this month, Donna Blair, his sons, Steve and his wife, Kathleen, and Ron and his wife, Lisa all of Parker, Colorado. He also leaves behind five grandchildren—Glen, Justin, Cameron, Kaitlyn, and Allison and one great-grandson, Emmet. He is also survived by his two siblings, Jerome Blair and his wife, Arlene of Aptos, California and Janet Russel and her husband, Larry of Los Gatos, California. He also has numerous other close relatives and friends.

He married his childhood sweetheart on October 24,1964. He graduated from Cupertino High School in California in 1962 and received a degree from Cabrillo College in Santa Cruz, CA. He went on to study at San Jose State. He was a very successful real estate developer in the Silicon Valley and Denver area. He also served on numerous boards over the years including Santa Clara University, Bellarmine College Preparatory, North Park College,First Covenant Church, HeritageBank and as Chairman of the Board on The World among others.

Jim and Donna spent most of their married life in the San Jose, California area. They relocated to Colorado in 2006 to be closer to their sons and their grandchildren.

Jim was a lover of life and enjoyed traveling extensively with family and friends. He and Donna traveled to all seven continents and spent several years traveling around the world aboard The World, a residence cruise ship.Jim enjoyed playing golf, downhill skiing, scuba diving and many other activities. He was a runner and loved to run wherever their travels took them.

After being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer four years ago, Jim finally lost the battle to this disease surrounded by his family. “I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7)

There will be a Celebration of Life to be held on Thursday, October 13th at three o’clock in the afternoon at Parker Evangelical Presbyterian Church, 9030 Miller Rd, Parker, CO 80138, followed by a reception at the Colorado Golf Club from four to six o’clock.

In lieu of flowers, please make a gift in support of pancreas cancer research at the University of Colorado. Please send your gift in memory of James Blair to: University of Colorado Foundation, PO Box 17126, Denver, CO 80217. On the memo line of the check, please note Jim's name. Gifts may also be made online at www.Giving.cu.edu/JamesBlair.

The family wishes to extend their gratitude to the wonderful staff of the Lone Treeextensionof the University of Colorado Hospital andespeciallyto Jim’s doctor, Dr. Wells Messersmith. The Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota where Jim had lifesaving surgery on July 30, 2014 by Dr. Farnell was also instrumental in Jim's long survival of this terrible disease. They are also very appreciative for the loving care and guidance of Halcyon Hospicefor their support in his final days.To these and all the other wonderful caregivers who helped him through this journey the family will always be extremely grateful.