James Christopher Broach

James Christopher Broach, beloved husband, father, son, brother and friend, passed away peacefully on Monday, the 26th of August 2013, with his family and friends by his side, following a brave 3-year fight against brain cancer. He was 37.

Born on the 28th of September 1975, in Chicago, Illinois, and raised in Kingsport, Tennessee, he resided in Houston, Texas, for the past 11 years. He was a Managing Director at Kayne Anderson Energy Funds where he worked following his time as investment banker. He was known to be a thoughtful business partner with much integrity. He graduated at the top of his class from Dobyns-Bennet High School in Kingsport, Tennessee, where he played varsity tennis. He earned a bachelor’s degree, summa cum laude, in Economics from Trinity University in San Antonio, where he played collegiate tennis and was a member of the Chi Delta Tau fraternity. Among his many tennis honors, he won the Intercollegiate Tennis Association men’s singles and doubles titles at the 1997 National Small College Championships. He was an All American in 1998 and was awarded a prestigious NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship the same year. He was also elected the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Year in 1998, and was a three-time All-SCAC honoree. Following his undergraduate degree James earned a Masters of Business Administration at The University of Texas in 2003 where his love of all things Longhorn football was cultivated.

After being diagnosed with brain cancer, James harnessed his enthusiasm for charitable giving, his desire to help others suffering from this same disease and his contacts in the energy industry to form The Broach Foundation for Brain Cancer Research funding promising brain cancer research at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. The foundation has contributed over $1.5 million in less than two years towards helping to find a cure for brain cancer. Although James knew the research funded by the foundation would come too late to be of help for him personally, James felt called to the work of the foundation in an effort to help others.

A man of great character and faith, James was best known by his easy going nature, integrity, relationship with God and devotion to his family. He was often seen on the tennis courts with his sons or coaching their sporting teams and cherished as some of his most favorite memories, his one-on-one trips and special times with each of them. As members of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, James and his family could be counted on occupying their favorite front row seats each week at the Encounter Worship service there. His reliance on Christ was strengthened in these last years through his battle with brain cancer and a small men’s Bible study group which met weekly. He knew his unwavering faith, courage and steadfast strength to be a gift from the Lord.

He is survived by the love of his life, his wife, Jamie; their three sons, Parker, Harrison and Oliver; his parents, Barbara and Rod Broach; and brother David; aunts, Cathy Ray and Betty Summerlin and her husband Don; in-laws James and Gaylynn Naiser; sister in-law, Charity Poage; and niece and nephew Piper and Beckett Poage.

The family is forever grateful to Dr. Frederick F. Lang, Jr., Nurse Practitioner Cheryl Martin, Dr. Mark Gilbert and countless others at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, including the staff at the Brain and Spine Center; the incredible people at Kayne Anderson Capital Partners whom James was honored to work with, our faith community at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, and his small men’s Bible study group.

Friends are cordially invited to gather with the family and share remembrances of James during a reception from five o’clock this afternoon until eight o’clock this evening, Wednesday, the 28th of August, in the grand foyer of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.

A memorial service, celebrating his life, is to be conducted at eleven o’clock in the morning on Thursday, the 29th of August, at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, 3471 Westheimer Road in Houston, where Dr. Tom Pace, Senior Pastor, is to officiate. Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception in the nearby Fellowship Hall.

In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests with gratitude that memorial contributions be directed to St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, p.o. bOX 22013, Houston, TX, 77227-2013; or to The Broach Foundation for Brain Cancer Research, 2726 Bissonnet St., Ste. 240-602, Houston, TX, 77005.

Always known to give sound advice, perhaps his best advice has been in a letter to his three sons in which he wrote: “You are never too young (or old) to have a relationship with Christ; Don’t be overly focused on worldly treasures and accomplishments – you don’t get to keep them in heaven; Everyone sins, but you need to ask for forgiveness; And always remember you can’t earn your way into heaven, it’s an incredible gift from God.”