James Chapple Soper

Jim Soper died peacefully in Oakland, CA on November 15, 2021.

Jim was born on January 15, 1929, in Billings, MT, to Erastus Burrows Soper III and Dorothy Chapple Soper. A resident of Piedmont, CA beginning in 1939, Jim attended Wildwood Elementary School and Piedmont High School and was an Eagle Scout. He went on to Stanford University, where he was a member of the Sigma Nu Fraternity and the Army ROTC. He graduated with a BA, and a JD from Stanford Law School.

While in his third year at Stanford Law School, Jim met his wife, Suzanne Simon. They were married in Pomona following Jim’s graduation in 1953. The couple spent their first years of marriage in Fort Sill OK, and Copperas Cove, TX, where Jim was stationed as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. In 1956, they moved to Piedmont.

Jim and Suzi raised their family on Oakmont Avenue in Piedmont, the street where Jim grew up and where his parents continued to live into their senior years. Jim and Suzi lived in two houses on Oakmont. When they outgrew one, they moved across the street. They dearly loved their Oakmont neighbors.

Jim spent his legal career at Fitzgerald Abbott & Beardsley (now Donahue Fitzgerald) in Oakland. He started in 1956, and practiced for 60 years, retiring at age 86. Jim chaired the firm’s Business and Corporate Transactions and Estates & Trusts Practice Groups for many years. A respected attorney and always a gentleman, Jim served as a mentor and friend to numerous attorneys through the years. He served on the Board of Directors of the Probate and Estate Planning Section, Alameda County Bar Association (1968-1971) and was Chair of the Governing Committee of the State Bar of California Continuing Education of the Bar (CEB) (1973).

Jim was also actively involved in his community, serving for years on the Board of the Oakland

Chapter of Boys & Girls Clubs of America and as an Alta Bates Hospital advisory board member. Jim was a longtime member of the Claremont Country Club, where he served on the Board of Directors and spent many happy hours playing tennis with friends. He and Suzi enjoyed travel, destination bicycle trips and spending time with their family and friends at their home in Sonoma County, and, in later years, in Bozeman MT.

Jim is survived by his son, John Soper (Martha), of Tucson, AZ, and his daughter, Claire Faughnan (Vincent) of Piedmont. He is also survived by five grandchildren, Claire Soper Roberts (Steve), Suzi Soper, Jimmy Soper (Nicole), Libby Faughnan Davis (Dan), and Burr Faughnan, as well as one great granddaughter, Hallie Suzanne Soper. Additionally, he is survived by in-laws Robert and Annette Simon and their children, and by sister-in-law, Shirley Soper.

Jim was predeceased by his wife, Suzi, and by his brothers Erastus Burrows (“Burr”) Soper IV and John (“Jack”) Wreford Soper.

The family is very grateful to Lavinia Gallo for her extraordinary help in recent years. The family also wishes to thank the loving and capable staff at Piedmont Gardens.

A family Celebration of Life Service was held for Jim at Mountain View Cemetery on Saturday, November 27, 2021.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in memory of Jim Soper be made to the Piedmont Community Church, 400 Highland Avenue, Piedmont, CA 94611, or to a charity of choice.

Tina Travlos, San Francisco resident for 54 years, passed away with her family by her side in San Rafael on December 5, 2021. She was the loving mother of Harry Travlos (wife Debbie), and beloved and adored grandmother to Sevasti Travlos (Ricardo Roque), Christina Travlos, and Harry Travlos III. Sister of Elianna, Jimmy, and Harry (deceased). Loving aunt to Jerry, Tom, Sevasti, Ernie, Danny, Tasia, Chrisann, George, and Michael (deceased). Having been widowed as a young woman with a 6 month old infant, Tina was resilient and created a loving and caring home for her and her son. They immigrated to San Francisco from Kefalonia, Greece in 1967. Tina’s home was always open and her kitchen table set with homemade traditional Greek food. She worked as a seamstress at Lilli Ann Fashions for over 25 years.

Those who knew her will remember her creativity, generosity, loving words and will always be her sweethearts.

The Trisagion will be on Monday, December 13 at 7pm at CHAPEL OF THE HIGHLANDS, El Camino Real at 194 Millwood Drive in Millbrae. The funeral will be on Tuesday at 11am at Greek Orthodox Memorial Park in Colma, CA.