Tiburon financial analyst Jim Dines dies at age 90

Published newsletter; advocated for investment in precious metals

Jim Dines, a financial analyst and writer who advocated for investment in precious metals, died at his home in Tiburon. He was 90.

Mr. Dines made forecasts for subscribers through his publication the Dines Letter, which started in 1960 and was updated regularly until his death. The recent price of a 20-issue subscription was $535.

Mr. Dines was born in 1931 in New York City. He graduated from Oberlin College and Columbia Law School and served in the U.S. Army in military intelligence.

Mr. Dines became interested in gold in the 1960s and was a frequent lecturer on investment strategies. His books included “Mass Psychology” and “Secrets of High States.”

Tiburon resident Thom Calandra, a financial analyst and journalist, said he met Mr. Dines decades ago and kept in close touch with him. He called the Dines Letter “a work of art” and its author “a very complex individual.”

”He always dressed to the nines,” Calandra said. “He had a huge following, but more so … for the money he made for people, and occasionally lost.”

“He was quite influential in the markets, including but not limited to the natural resources,” he said. “He was very bright.”

Tiburon resident Michael Scippa called Mr. Dines “gregarious and helpful in a lot of areas” and recalled enlisting Dines' help with editing a book he was writing.

“My daughter was in ballet school, and he was a supporter of the ballet school just based on our friendship,” said Scippa, public affairs director for Alcohol Justice, a watchdog group based in San Rafael. “I think he cared about the community he lived in, as well as some of the major issues affecting financing around the world and precious metals everywhere.”

“The world is a little less interesting with him gone,” Scippa said.

Mr. Dines died on April 12. A memorial service was held on April 26 at Cypress Lawn Funeral Home and Memorial Park in Colma.