James D. Gilmore ’61

Jim died July 26, 2025, at his home on Bainbridge Island, Wash.

Born in Independence, Kan., he came to us from Independence High School. At Princeton, he majored at the Woodrow Wilson School, was president of Colonial Club, played 150-pound football, and joined Navy ROTC. He roomed with Ed Bartlett ’62 and Dave Cole.

After Princeton Jim served in the Navy on the USS Princeton, then earned his LL.D. at Stanford before moving to Alaska, where he practiced law in solo practice and then with a partner for 40 years with notable distinction. Along the way he served on the Alaska Judicial Council, received the Alaska Bar Lifetime Professionalism Award, and joined the exclusive American Academy of Trial Lawyers. As his obituary reported, “Jim’s exploits as a trial lawyer are legion.” In 2005, he and his wife of 56 years, Katy, relocated to Port Townsend and then to Bainbridge Island, both in Washington, when he fully retired.

Jim is survived by Katy; sons Chester and William; and four grandchildren.