James David Walsh

James David Walsh, 69, of Woodbine, Maryland, passed away suddenly on July 5.

He was born on November 5, 1956, in Sharon, Pennsylvania, to John D. Walsh and Irene M. Walsh (née Hromyak). Jim had three older siblings—Carol, Jack, and Connie—and was the baby of his family, from two babies of their respective families. He was a proud graduate of Kennedy Christian (now Kennedy Catholic) High School in Hermitage, where, among other extracurriculars, he had an early chance to demonstrate his talents for trivia by competing on Battle of Wits, a high school quiz-bowl show. He attended John Carroll University, in Cleveland, and joined Alpha Kappa Psi before graduating with a B.S. and B.A. in 1978. After working as an accountant for a few years, Jim enrolled at the University of Toledo College of Law in Toledo, Ohio; despite working full time during law school, he was highly regarded by his friends for his meticulously organized outlines and graduated with cum laude and Order of the Coif honors in 1983.

He and Laura Walsh (née McCachren) married the same year and moved to Maryland, where Jim resided for the rest of his life, aside from one failed attempt to move back to Cleveland in the ’80s. They raised their two daughters, Anna and Emily, in Howard County and were active members of First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Ellicott City while they were growing up. Jim had an independent law firm for most of his career and specialized in taxation and estate planning, caring deeply about his many clients. He was also passionate about politics: He served on the Howard County Board of Appeals for ten years and was elected chairperson multiple times by his fellow board members; was highly involved with the Howard County Republican Party; and served for a year on the Howard County Charter Review Commission.

Jim had a keen intellect, a sharp, occasionally dark sense of humor, and a quick wit. He believed deeply in showing up for family members and would do so at every occasion he could. He was the sort of person who would grouse about caring for his daughters’ elderly childhood cat but would nevertheless take it upon himself to thoughtfully construct a way for the cat to more comfortably access her favorite armchair as she aged. He thrived on a karaoke stage, loved (and despaired over) the Cleveland Browns, and had a seemingly endless capacity for watching—and rewatching, and rewatching—A Christmas Story during the holiday season. A longtime Jeopardy! devotee and a great teammate at bar trivia, he was preparing to finally take the Jeopardy! contestant test online before he passed.

Jim is survived by his daughters, Anna Walsh and her husband, Kevin Roberts, and Emily Newton and her husband, Mark Newton; his brother, Jack Walsh, and his wife, Diane; his sister Carol Stott and her husband, Allan Stott; his former wife, Laura Walsh; friends from all stages of his life; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, John D. Walsh and Irene M. Walsh, and his sister Connie L. Masian and her husband, Richard Dudley Masian.

Family and friends are invited to join his family for visitation on Sunday, July 26, between 3 and 5 p.m., at Candle Light Funeral Home, located at 1835 Frederick Road, Catonsville MD 21228, and to attend his funeral on Monday, July 27, at 11 a.m., at First Evangelical Lutheran Church, located at 3604 Chatham Road, Ellicott City, MD 21042. The church will be open for visitation an hour before the funeral, and a reception will follow. The burial will take place in a private family gathering in Hermitage, Pennsylvania, at a later date. 

To honor Jim’s life, his family suggests making a memorial donation to the Kennedy Catholic Family of Schools, at 2120 Shenango Valley Fwy, Hermitage, PA 16148; taking a shot of Jack Daniel’s (preferably Tennessee Honey) with your family; or singing “Friends in Low Places” by Garth Brooks at karaoke night at a bar.