T. James Binder ’77

Jim — known as “Pitbull” in legal circles in Northern Virginia — died Jan. 9, 2015, in Manassas, Va., where he lived.

Born in Michigan and transplanted to Virginia as a teenager, he joined ’77 after attending Virginia Commonwealth University. At Princeton, Jim belonged to Charter Club and was a history major.

Jim earned a law degree from the University of Virginia. He joined the Virginia State Bar in 1981 and was an assistant commonwealth’s attorney in Danville, Va., where he met the woman he married, Gina Stroud. Together they moved to Northern Virginia, where he practiced as a defense attorney. Jim delighted in vacations in Michigan, landing armloads of king salmon on Lake Michigan.

Over the years, he chaired the board of governors of the general practice section for the Virginia State Bar and was recognized for contributions to the senior law section. He also taught at the Northern Virginia School of Law, instructing aspiring lawyers in courtroom procedures specific to Virginia.

To Gina and their children, Richmond and Helen; Jim’s mother, Margery; and his brothers, Mike and Doug; the class sends its condolences.