James Lafayette Spencer

Spencer, James (“Jim”) Lafayette, prominent Clearwater Investment Advisor and advocate for all things children and nature, said goodbye to us on February 27, 2025, at the age of 92. Jim was preceded in death by his wife of 48 years, Sally Ann Cooley Spencer. He is survived by his long-time partner, Barbara J. Izzi, his son, Scott A. Spencer, former daughters-in-law Wendy A. Spencer and Angela K. Carlton, grandchildren Dillon S. Spencer, James W. Spencer, Joseph C. Spencer, Ansley E. Spencer, Jennifer K. Spencer, Sally M. Spencer and great-granddaughter Stella R. Spencer.

Blessed with a loving family, special friends and good health, Jim’s life was shaped by his favorite motto, words he often shared with those he loved, “Destiny is by Choice, not by Chance.”

Jim was born and raised in Port Huron, Michigan, and attended Hillsdale College and the University of Notre Dame, graduating with a degree in Economics and continuing his higher education in the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School. After serving in the United States Armed Forces, stationed at Nellingen Airfield near Stuttgart, Germany, through 1958, Jim moved to Fort Lauderdale where he met and married Sally and started a family. In 1968, the family relocated to the Clearwater area where they immersed themselves in a community they quickly grew to love.

Over the course of a successful career that spanned more than fifty years, Jim was involved in numerous professional organizations both locally and internationally. Jim’s service to various industry organizations includes positions with the District Business Conduct Committee of NASD (now known as FINRA) and the Investment Company Institute in Washington, D.C. He served on the Boards of Directors of The Pioneer Group (Boston), Pioneer Funds, GmbH (Frankfurt), Pioneer First Polish Trust Fund (Warsaw), Premier Community Bank (Clearwater), and CORE Investment Management of Clearwater, Florida, where he served as President at the time of his passing.

Committed to and active within his community, Jim was a founding member of Belleair Country Club and a long-time member of many other organizations including the Privateers Club, Carlouel Yacht Club, Clearwater-St Petersburg-Tampa Golden Triangle Association, Delta Tau Delta Fraternity, Tampa Bay Food and Wine Society, Alliance Française, La Chaîne des Rôtisseurs, the Donald Roebling Society, the Harvard Business School Club of West Florida, the Gulf Coast Museum of Art, the Dali Museum, and the Downtown Clearwater Rotary Club. Jim served on the board for the Valspar PGA Golf Tournament and UPARC Foundation (now The ARC Tampa Bay Foundation) and was appointed by the Governor to the board of The Able Trust. Along with Sally, Jim served as chairperson for a variety of charitable events including The Able Trust Palm Beach Gala at Mar-a-Lago, the Abilities Guild Holiday Gala, the Annual Suncoast Hospice Gala, UPARC Foundation’s Festival of Trees and Morton Plant Mease Hospital Foundation Charity Ball. The Spencers were wonderful catalysts for their community, hosting numerous fundraising events at their Belleair home and at “Spencerville,” their beach house in Carlouel.

Throughout his life, Jim enjoyed sports and the great outdoors and was proficient in alpine skiing, golf and tennis. Always the life of the party, he relished the company of friends and enjoyed a dynamic social life to the end. He also valued quiet moments on his deck with Barbara, surrounded by the bay’s flora and fauna. He treasured spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren (those by blood and the many others whom he loved like his own), and took great joy in enriching their lives through his kindness, wisdom and support. He took immense pleasure in the peaceful, natural beauty of his Bay Brook home as well as his majestic Monaco retreat on the Mediterranean Sea where he spent his summers.

Jim lived life to the fullest and left this earth with no regrets. He exemplified the very definition of chivalry, “a set of behaviors that emphasizes kindness, respect, and generosity.” And he showed by example that chivalry was not some archaic code of honor from days gone by, but a means by which we can make modern society just a little bit better, a little more compassionate and a little happier through courtesy and consideration. His impact on those who knew and loved him is a lasting legacy, and the world is a kinder, more gracious place because of him.

Jim continually expressed gratitude for his family, friends and all who supported him in his many pursuits. Jim leaves us with a “thank you,” a smile and his favorite quote by George Bernard Shaw, “There is no accomplishment so easy to acquire as politeness and none more profitable.”

An open house celebrating Jim’s life will be held from 4pm to 7pm on Saturday, March 22, 2025, at the Belleair home of Wendy Spencer. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Suncoast Hospice or your favorite charity.