James’ Obituary James (Jim) Patrick Tierney, loving husband, father, and grandfather, passed away on Tuesday, February 5, 2019, surrounded by his family. Jim was born in Kansas City, MO on April 30, 1927 to William and Ann (Schweiger) Tierney. He attended St. Francis Xavier grade school and Rockhurst High School in KCMO.
He served in the Coast Guard in 1945 – 46. He graduated second in his class from Rockhurst College in 1948 where he was a member of Delta Epsilon Sigma. In 1948, he pursued post-graduate work at Oxford University and graduated Harvard Law School with an LL.
B in 1951. In that same year, he returned to Kansas City and commenced a distinguished law career with Kemp, Koontz, Clagett and Norquist (known today as Lathrop Gage). In 1962, he met and married Catherine (Kitty) Dolan, the love of his life.
Together they raised four children, traveled the world together and shared passions for gardening, music and art. Jim will be remembered as a wise and honest lawyer, whose illustrious legal career spanned five decades. He acted as managing partner for Lathrop Gage for a decade.
A master of negotiation, he combined astute business acumen with a keen legal mind, serving as counsel for numerous multi-national mergers and acquisition transactions. He was a cherished and respected mentor to young lawyers, who looked to him for practical advice and guidance. Adamantly opposed to the death penalty, he took on several pro-bono cases defending death row inmates.
Passionate about politics, he was a member of the original board of Governors of the United Democratic Association in 1960 and chaired the Kanas City Fair Housing Commission in 1968-69. More than anything, he loved engaging with others about the state of the world, particularly those who held views different from his own. Jim was an avid reader and lifelong learner whose hobbies included tennis, gardening, technology, cooking, sailing, travel, reading and, above all else, skiing.
Born a flatlander, Jim was a mountain man in his soul. As a charter member of the Kansas City Ski Club, he would travel 24 hours by bus to Aspen just for the chance to ski for two days. Nothing brought him more joy than sharing his love of skiing with others, especially his wife, children and grandchildren.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents and three brothers, George, William and Thomas. He is survived by his loving wife of 57 years, Kitty; his four children, Michael Edward Tierney, Patrick James Tierney, Ann Tierney Prochnow (Christopher Tyler Prochnow) and Katherine Tierney Blando (Phillip Joseph Blando); and his grandchildren, Abby and Matt Tierney, Jessica and Liam Tierney, Connor and Sophia Prochnow, and George and Katherine Blando. Visitation will be held on Saturday, February 9th from 9 – 11 am at Visitation Church, 5141 Main St., Kansas City, MO with Mass of Christian Burial following at 11:00 a.m. Interment will be at Calvary Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Bishop Spencer Place Employee Fund, 4301 Madison Ave, KCMO 64111. The family would like to thank the exceptional caregivers of Bishop Spencer Place for providing loving, compassionate care to Jim.
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