Roll Call Tribute

James Lampin Dunn Jr.
DECEMBER 21, 1961 – MARCH 21, 2021

In a life that was too short, there is comfort in knowing just how fully it was lived. With this in mind, we mourn the loss and celebrate the life of James Lampin Dunn, Jr., age 59, who passed away on Sunday, March 21, 2021 after a valiant battle with cancer.

Jim was born in Jackson, Mississippi in 1961 to parents Jim Sr. and Jacqueline. When he was still young the family moved to Houston where Jim lived the majority of his life. He met his future wife and love of his life, Chrissy Roehm, while attending Hunters Creek Elementary. They began dating in college a year after graduating from Memorial High School when a happy accident brought them together sailing in Galveston with mutual friends. Chrissy and Jim married in 1987 and over the next 34 years settled down first in Houston, then Scottsdale, AZ, and finally back home to Houston.

Jim was a proud Texas A&M alum, graduating with an accounting degree. He went on to law school at Southern Methodist University and became licensed as a CPA and attorney. This became the foundation for Jim’s multi-faceted career combining finance and law. After law school, he formally joined his father at James L. Dunn & Associates. There he worked with members of the DDR Dental Trust established by his father, and successfully helped many dentists with their dental practice transitions. Jim was also involved in the Houston Rotary Club from 1990 to 1999 and served as its President for a portion of that time.

After several years of working with his father, Jim took on new challenges, working with companies in the software, telecom, healthcare and manufacturing industries that ranged in size from startups to large multinational businesses. He guided them through mergers and acquisitions, public and private fundraising events and two IPOs (iLinc Communications and Applied Optoelectronics). He also served as CFO and in-house counsel at Polymics Ltd., Castle Biosciences and Riversand. At the time of his diagnosis last year, he was enjoying his role as CFO for iOffice in Houston. He felt a strong kinship with his coworkers there, and their support during his illness was a great source of comfort.

The greatest joy in his life was his family, his wife Chrissy and their four children: Christopher, Hayley, Scott and Erin. Jim was actively involved in his children’s lives as they grew up, coaching them in various school sports and supporting them as they developed different interests. An expert skier, he taught each of his children (and many in his wife’s family) to ski during winter breaks. Jim made friends easily and rarely lost them, staying close with friends he made from elementary school on. He was open, enthusiastic, welcoming and warm, a gregarious host who loved bringing his friends and family together for any occasion. These included skiing trips, fishing expeditions and simply gathering at his home to watch a game.

With his boundless energy, broad smile, and desire to try new things, Jim was always looking for another new adventure to share with his loved ones. Depending on what point Jim came into your life, you might have known him as a sailor of catamarans, an angling enthusiast, a European backpacker, a mountaintop hiker, a pilot of airplanes, or all the above.

Jim also loved to discuss politics and policy, watch college football and Formula 1 races, cook on the grill for family and friends, and listen to music on the patio while having a glass of wine and planning future adventures. Jim loved and treasured his family, friends and his life. He will be greatly missed and forever loved.

Jim was predeceased by his father, James L. Dunn, Sr. He is survived by his wife Chrissy and children Christopher, Hayley (and her husband Collin Shepherd), Scott, and Erin, as well as his mother, Jacqueline, sister Stacey, her husband Joe Isenhart, and their children Sam, Braden, Emma and Sophie. The family wishes to thank Jim’s caregivers during his final days, Erica Perez and Pablo Montenegro, as well as Houston Hospice. Their dedicated service enabled Jim to die peacefully at home surrounded by his loved ones.

A Memorial Mass celebrating Jim's life will be held at St. Cecilia Catholic Church, 720 Joan of Arc Drive, Houston on Friday April 23, at 10:30am. In lieu of flowers, donations in Jim’s honor may be made to the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (https://www.mdanderson.org/donors-volunteers/donate/honor-loved-ones.html) for “Glioblastoma Cancer Research.”

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