James P. Whitlock, Jr. MD

June 18, 1942 - February 16, 2023

James Palmer Whitlock, Jr. MD died peacefully at home surrounded by his family in San Francisco on February 16, 2023 from prostate cancer. He was 80 years old. Jim was born on June 18, 1942 to James Palmer Whitlock Sr and Barbara Jane Smith. He grew up in Elizabeth, NJ and attended Pingry Preparatory School where he created an endowment to reward math, science and technology faculty members for excellence in teaching. Jim felt strongly that education was critical to students’ informed decisions that affect their future. He excelled not only in academics but in soccer and continued to play varsity soccer in college and into his 50s. Jim graduated from Princeton University, received his M.D. from Temple Medical School, and later did a pediatric residency at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center in New York. City. He was a research associate at the National Cancer Institute and a recipient of the Agnes Axell Moule Faculty Scholarship in 1980 and Faculty Research award of the American Cancer Society from 1981 to 1986. He studied the molecular mechanisms by which toxins regulate the expression of different genes. He was a Professor of Molecular Pharmacology at Stanford Medical School where he was NIH funded for cancer research and taught pharmacology from 1978 until his retirement in 2007. Jim was enthusiastic about charitable giving as he always felt an obligation to give back and was grateful for his many opportunities. He supported many organizations, including the Wilderness Society, St. Jude’s, Habitat for Humanity, Doctors without Borders, Care, SF-Marin food bank, Haight Ashbury free clinic and many more. His passion for education and giving paled in comparison for his love of his children and grandchildren. He was happiest at family gatherings and renowned for his pediatric humor. While Jim was an introvert, the friends he made were very dear to him and long-lasting. He had simple tastes and walking on the beach by his family home on the Jersey shore or in Golden Gate Park were his favorite things. He loved photography and was the visual historian of his many walks and all family events. He was famous for his gardening, BarBQ skills and yearly calendars with pictures and different themes: Pollinators, Butterflies, The Hood, to name a few. He will be greatly missed by his wife, Lynn Pulliam, his children, Heather and her husband John Eames, Drew and his wife Jessica, his ex-wife Rosalie, his stepchildren, Chris and Amanda Bowstead, grandchildren, Eastwick, Keira, Travis, Hunter, Jackson, Ethan and Sofia, sister Nancy and brothers David and Chester. A memorial for Jim will be held soon in Palo Alto and in New Jersey in April. Jim would consider a donation to any charity as a celebration of his life.