Obituary
It is with deep sorrow and gratitude for a life well lived that we announce the passing of James “Jim” Lee Thompson on December 27, 2025. Jim died peacefully at the age of 84 from complications of Alzheimer’s disease. He was the beloved son of Robert and Marjorie Thompson.
Jim grew up in Chevy Chase, Maryland, the middle of three sons, where he was raised in a home that deeply valued integrity, education, and decency, along with a love of sports and the outdoors. After graduating from Bethesda Chevy Chase Senior High School in 1959, Jim attended Yale University. His years at Yale were foundational to his life. There, he developed the rigorous study habits that would define his legal career, formed lifelong friendships he treasured, and earned the distinction of captaining the Yale Bulldogs football team and playing in their undefeated 1960 season, an achievement of which he remained immensely proud.
Following Yale, Jim attended the University of Virginia School of Law, receiving his Juris Doctor in 1966. He went on to serve his country as a Judge Advocate General (JAG) Officer in the United States Marine Corps from 1966 to 1970. In 1970, Jim joined the law firm of Miller, Miller & Canby, where he would spend his entire legal career.
At Miller, Miller & Canby, Jim earned a reputation for exemplary ethical standards, professionalism, and collegiality, forging lifelong friendships with his partners and colleagues. The firm provided him not only a platform to practice law at the highest level, but also an avenue to contribute meaningfully to the advancement of the legal profession. Among his many accomplishments, Jim played a role in the creation of the Southern Division of the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, contributed to the Designated Conciliator Program in Montgomery County, and was a founding member of the National Association and the Owners’ Council. Jim was also an active and influential member of both the Maryland State Bar Association and the Montgomery County Bar Association, serving as president of both for a year term as well as being inducted into both the Maryland and American Bar Foundations for his contributions to the profession. A devoted mentor, Jim generously guided younger attorneys both within his firm and through the Young Lawyers sections of the state and county bar associations.
Deeply civic-minded, Jim provided pro bono legal advice in his community and served as Chair of the Lawyers’ Division for the United Way of Montgomery County. Over the course of his distinguished career, he received numerous honors recognizing his excellence, leadership, and service. He was widely respected for his courtesy, integrity, and unwavering professionalism, exemplified by his receipt of the Century of Service Award, recognizing one of the 32 most influential legal figures in Montgomery County during the 20th century. Jim was intensely proud of his profession and dedicated himself fully to the practice of law, achieving the highest levels of accomplishment through tireless commitment and principled service.
Despite a demanding professional life, Jim also made time for his family. He enthusiastically coached his sons in Pee-Wee football, taught them tennis and billiards, and spent long, cherished summer days together at the family’s lake home. His four-season retreat at Deep Creek Lake was a source of deep joy and renewal—whether sailing, skiing, entertaining friends and family, or adding thoughtfully to his art collection. Jim’s first friends, his brothers Tom and John, remained among his closest, and their multi-family vacations were lively, and filled with family fun.
An avid traveler, Jim embraced opportunities for adventure, whether attending Yale reunions, or participating in Maryland Bar Association excursions. Larger than life not only in stature but in spirit, Jim lived fully, worked passionately, and enjoyed his life. He will be deeply missed and forever remembered.
Jim is survived by his two sons, James (Rebecca) and Thomas; his four grandchildren, Evelyn, Zachary, Timothy, and Maddox; his brothers John (Catherine) and Robert (Diane), and their families; his former wife and the mother of his sons, Diana; and his longtime companion, Mayda, and her family.
A Celebration of Life Service honoring Jim’s exceptional life will be held at 1:00pm PST on March 1, 2026. Register below.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Jim’s memory to the Alzheimer’s Association.
Celebration of Life
Sunday, March 1, 2026
1:00pm Pacific Time
Jim’s family invites you to join us for a virtual celebration of life to honor his life and legacy. An interactive online reception will take place immediately following.
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In lieu of flowers please consider donating to the Alzheimer’s Association.
Jim was a fierce trial lawyer who lived his life fully. Loosing him little by little to Alzheimer’s disease has been a slow and heartbreaking experience, one he also went through with his father over 20 years ago. Please join our family in supporting the Alzheimer’s Association to find a cure for this devastating disease and ensure other individuals and their families can be spared from this painful loss. With gratitude – The Thompson Family
You came into my mom, Mayda’s life,
17 years ago,
with a deep voice & a jolly smile,
that us “kids” & her grandkids,
fondly came to know.
You always told us stories,
at meals would regale us with a tale,
many a time about your youthful past,
especially of Yale.
Although you loved football,
& specialized in the law,
your softer side was drawn to the arts,
& you’d often share with us
the beautiful pieces you saw.
Now I like to think that your spirit lies in beauty,
all around & from within,
& to the Tsaknis & Mrkic children,
you’ll forever be remembered warmly as,
Papa Jim.
May you rest in peace Papa Jim.
Jim was a very special person and a great friend. My first memories of him were as teammates on the freshman baseball team ( yes something other than football). Obviously an excellent athlete and student, he was an even better person. . Over the past 25 years Jim and Mayda became an active and delightful part of our Washington DC area class group. He brought energy, thoughtfulness and story telling to all our gatherings. We will miss him greatly. Our thoughts, condolences and prayers are with Jim‘s family and Mayda. Peter Cressy
Hello. I am Jon Larson, one of Jim’s 1,000 plus Yale 1963 Classmates and I would like to think one of Jim’s closest friends over the years as he was mine.
Jim has long been known as one of the pillars of our Yale class of 1963. Over the years he was known to his classmates as a scholar/athlete, center and captain of our football team in, chairman of our 40th reunion in 2003, and through his active participation in all of our class reunions over the years where we have shared his life path from graduation, marriage, law school, military service in the Marines, father of two amazing sons, and successful partner in a major law firm with large corporate clients and many important contributions to the law.
I first got to know Jim personally at the 40th reunion when I helped him lift Diana and her wheelchair up the stairs to the 2nd floor of Mory’s for a class dinner. Our friendship grew out of his participation in our Y’63 Tour de France in 2016 where Jim and I were the guides known as the barge guys who co-guided 45 of our classmates, wives and partners including Mayda around France for a month the summer of 2016, barging in Burgundy, and visiting Lorie Valley, Normandy, and Paris. And then again when Jim and Mayda joined 44 of us for a month touring the British Isles the summer of 2017. After that we shared mini-reunions in San Francisco and periodic extended get togethers around the country with Y’63 colleagues including great rounds of competitive golf.
Through both his son Jimmie and Mayda, I was able to share the last few years of his long goodbye as the mind of this great man dimmed slowly and he drifted away from us and into himself. He was well cared for by his brothers, his son Jimmie, and his long time companion these many years Mayda who shared his life and friends.
Thank you Jim for being such a great friend and colleague over these many years. You were much loved and appreciated by all who knew you. A true gentle giant of a man, you will remain in my and our heads and hearts forever. Save a place for me there brother, you will be one of the first friends I look for to greet and join me when in time I myself pass over to the other side. Until then stay strong. And may God continue to bless us, one and all.