James (Jim) Youngelson

Jim – known to all his friends as Jim – was born on October 4, 1935, in Morristown New Jersey, to the late Irving and Celia Youngelson. Forever a proud son of New Jersey, he grew up in Dover. He met his beloved Theresa (Terry) and enjoyed a beautiful courtship before they married in 1963 and eventually settled in Morristown, living in the same home for over 60 years where they raised their family together.

Jim and Terry shared 62 years of marriage, filled with their love of travel, community, family, and festive meals around countless tables — full of laughter, puns, companionship, and joy. With Jim, a witty pun or joke was always just around the corner.

His parents, Irving and Celia, believed deeply in the transformative power of education. They sent Jim to boarding school at Blair Academy, where he later served on the board, and he went on to Princeton and then Harvard Law School. Coming of age between the end of the Korean War and the ramping up of Vietnam, Jim joined ROTC at Princeton, and following graduation served his country as an artillery officer and later as a JAG lawyer.

The mountains of the American West were a place of constant renewal for Jim. At age 19, he drove to Wyoming with a college friend to work as a dishwasher in a newly built lodge in Grand Teton National Park. That same summer, he hiked the Grand Teton with legendary mountain guide Paul Petzoldt. It was a foundational experience for him, and he passed on his love of this majestic landscape, and the critical importance of stewardship, to his children and grandchildren.

Jim practiced law for more than 60 years. He began his career in Los Angeles before returning to New Jersey to join a family practice, Youngelson & Youngelson, with both of his parents. He eventually forged his own path, serving as a partner at several law firms in the Morristown area before retiring at age 79. A true generalist, he was a trusted advisor to clients large and small, with a particular focus on trusts and estates. Some of his client relationships spanned more than 50 years, and many clients became part of his close circle of friends. He brought a whip-smart intellect and an unmatched attention to detail to his work. Among his proudest achievements were his many years of service with the New Jersey State Bar Association, where he devoted countless pro bono hours to ethics reform and the improvement of professional conduct standards

Jim was sweet, kind, and good. He felt a deep sensitivity to righting the wrongs of injustice, and little patience for self-aggrandizement or the abuse of power. A profound selflessness guided how he moved through the world — always caring for, and looking after, others. Wonder and curiosity defined him; he read the New York Times cover to cover, in print, until the week before he died, and never tired of World War II history. Jim was forever an optimist, believing in the potential for good in all people, even amid his deep concern for the precarious state of the world.

He lived a rich and fulfilling life. He spent his final two days "holding court" in a hospital room, surrounded by his wife, children, and grandchildren, making sure — in his own way — that each of them would be all right in the days and years ahead. He was never afraid to hug or to cry. His heart was big, overflowing with love and empathy until the end. He will be profoundly missed.