James Anthony Smith was born in 1941 in California, and passed away in San Francisco on December 8, 2025.

James grew up in Santa Cruz, CA and developed a passion for basketball at Santa Cruz High School where he was named All-American.

From high school, he was recruited by Pete Newell to play basketball at UC Berkeley. After Berkeley James went on to UCSF Medical School, followed by an internship in Pasadena.

James joined the US Navy and served as a medical officer on a Polaris submarine. Just after leaving the Navy, James met his soulmate, Maureen Frances O’Hara, in San Francisco and they married in 1973. Maureen was originally from Wimbledon, London, England and she had lived in Paris for several years. Their combined world travelling spirits led to decades of travel and adventure.

Professionally, James was accepted at Langley Porter Institute in San Francisco where he did his Residency in Psychiatry. During his decades-long career as a psychiatrist his focus was on helping severely mentally ill patients for whom he had great compassion.

James loved his small plane which he used for business trips and for pleasure. Once, he joined six other small plane enthusiasts and flew from the Bay Area to Barrow, Alaska on the Arctic Ocean. Another time he flew to Martha’s Vineyard, MA on a trip.

James was a very good athlete. Whatever sport he played, he played it well including basketball, baseball, tennis, skiing and golf. He joined Maureen to hike the High Sierra Loop, and trek some of the beautiful hikes in New Zealand. James was a 50-year member of The Olympic Club, San Francisco.

James believed in protecting the environment, and he loved dogs.

James was predeceased by his parents Charles and Rose Smith of Santa Cruz. James is survived by his wife of 52 years, Maureen, his brother Dr. Steven Smith and Steven’s wife, Kristin, of Watsonville, CA and their children Sarah (Hans) Schwing and their daughter, Harbor, of San Diego, CA and Stefanie (TJ) Humphries and their son Hayes and daughter Larkin of Lafayette, CA.

There will be no funeral or other services.

Thank you to the wonderful doctors, nurses and staff at the San Francisco VA Medical Center who took such good care of James.