From classmate Jane Sass Collins:

Jim died Feb 12 around 11 p.m. He had been suffering from dementia, which increased in severity over the past few months. They had moved him from his home in Alexandria, Virginia, to a nursing home in San Diego, near Sarah and her family. Jim had six grandchildren, whom he got to know during the last phase of his life.

James died peacefully, soon after talking with his brother on the phone. I believe Sarah was at his side. She had not known her father well, as her mother Kathryn had taken her West to raise at a very young age. She appreciated the chance to get to know him, even though he was not what he had been, intellectually. He was still a funny, warm, sweet-tempered person, though the dementia and confusion created some moments of rage. She drove him around with the radio on and sang to him. He always loved music and was interested in hearing new groups and genres. Long ago, he wrote a few songs himself, which I remember and still enjoy. He played guitar extremely well, with moments of glory. He played in our basement several times, years ago, when a band of friends got together to jam every Thursday night.

His birthday was in early March, maybe March 1. He created countless works of art, mostly collages with images culled from his towering piles of art and history books. He wrote poetry, and a wonderful science fiction/paranormal novel he never really tried to get published, called Gate of Sand. I think I have a pdf of the book, if anyone wants it. He also wrote brilliant pieces of art criticism for Art in America, and I think other magazines too. He spent his working life as an assistant curator at the Hirschhorn Museum, and if you were lucky, he would give you a tour of the archives there. He was an active and supportive member of the D.C. art community.

James used tarot cards, I Ching, and astrological charts to focus his insights into his own life, his friends' lives, and current events. I will miss his cosmic comments, and his shrewd perspective on politics. He followed national and global politics in detail and felt passionately about a number of progressive causes. He hated Trump long before most people knew who he was.