James Fredrick Matthews

Jan 18, 1934 - Nov 7, 2017

James Fredrick Matthews lost his long and valiant battle with Alzheimer’s Disease on November 7th surrounded by loving family members at Gordon Manor, his care home in Redwood City. A resident of Los Altos since 1957, he was one of five children born to Helen and Arthur Matthews in South Bend, IN. Jim received his BA in English at the University of Virginia, entered the Naval Officer’s Candidate School in Rhode Island, continued his military education at the Naval Aviation Ground Officer’s School in Florida, and left the US Navy as LTJG stationed in the Naval Intelligence Command at Moffett Field. Upon his discharge from the Navy, Jim married and founded the Montecito Nursery School in Los Altos where his daughter Erin Mobley is now the director. Jim further went on to receive his law degree from Stanford University, and practiced as a real estate and business litigation attorney with the law firm Matthews and Marzulla and later Matthews, Hammond and Boehm. For several years, Jim taught Real Estate Law through the continuing education of the CA State Bar Assoc. as well as teaching Real Estate Law at SJ City College. In 1981, Jim married his wife JoAnne. As members of the Los Altos Golf and Country Club, with Jim being a Senior Emeritus Member, they shared years of their common love of tennis and lasting friendships that remain today. Jim and JoAnne were world travelers. Jim was also an accomplished painter and musician. A true gentleman, Jim will be missed tremendously and remembered for his kind and gentle soul, joyful demeanor, love of life and music, artistic talent and for his infectious laughter. He is survived by his loving and devoted wife JoAnne Matthews, children London, Megan and Erin from his first marriage to Molly, stepsons Marc, Scott and Ken Fey, grandchildren Kelsey and Connor Fey, Molly and Greyson Mobley, Hudson and Maya Fey, Kaison Fey, sisters Sarah Garst and Susan Dressler, and brother John Matthews. The family would like to acknowledge the loving and compassionate care provided by the staff at Gordon Manor, and the professionals at Pathways Hospice who provided invaluable service to Jim. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be sent to the Alzheimer’s Association/ Part the Cloud, in honor of James Matthews, 2290 N 1st Street, Suite 101, San Jose, CA 95131.