James Francis Pinner

PINNER James Francis Pinner, Sr., 85, died peacefully at his home surrounded by loved ones after succumbing to Alzheimer’s. He was preceded in death by his beloved son James Francis Pinner, Jr., his father Clay Anderson Pinner, his mother Delia Killeen Pinner, his sister Catherine Graham, and his brothers Clay and Edward Pinner. Jim is survived by his by his loving and devoted wife of 63 years, Marilyn Kassel Pinner, his children Alan Pinner (Debbie), Robert Pinner (Barbara), Marilyn Morris (Ted), Susan Fenner (Thom), his daughter-in-law Janice Pinner (James, Jr.), his grandchildren Ryan (Tabitha) and Amy Pinner, Caitlin (Ted) Lewis and Sean Pinner, Jeffrey (Kristine) and David (Natasha Prats) Pinner, Christopher, Eliot, Holden and Cedric Castanza, Anne and Phineas Morris, Jamie, Lisa and Kevin Fenner, and his great grandchildren Harrison and Genevieve Lewis, Madison and Jack Pinner, and David and Gabriel Castanza. He is also survived by his brothers William Pinner (Beverly), Raymond Pinner and his sister Sylvia Foil. He attended Samuel J. Peters High School (Go Get ’Em Peters!). In 1951, he graduated valedictorian of Tulane Business School and then attended Tulane Law School from which he graduated in 1954. Jim was always a hard worker. At the age of 11, he had his own paper route and would ride his bicycle up and down the streets of New Orleans delivering newspapers for the States Item which later became the Times Picayune. After graduating from Tulane Law School, he joined the U.S. Navy during the Korean War. He was a legal officer aboard the U.S.S. Fulton and ended his Naval Career as a lieutenant. In 1958, he began working as a CPA with Bourgeois, Bennett, Thokey and Hickey and later became a senior partner. In 1991, he decided to use his law degree and became Of Counsel for Sessions & Fishman. One year later he started his own practice. In 2006, he retired at the age of 75. During his life he was an active member of the community. He served as president of the New Orleans Chapter of CPAs, the Tulane Alumni Business Association, the Estate Planning Counsel, and St. Elizabeth’s Dad’s Club. He taught accounting at Tulane and Loyola for several years. In 1978, he was Alumnus of the Year at Tulane. Prior to Hurricane Katrina, he was an active member of Resurrection of Our Lord Catholic Church. For the past nine years, he was a parishioner of St. Benilde Catholic Church. Above all of his other accomplishments, he was most proud of his family. He passed down the value of education to each of his children. He instilled confidence in them by reminding them “You were born with what all the great have had. With your equipment they all began. So get hold of yourself my lad and say I can.” – Equipment by Edgar Albert Guest. He will be remembered for his generosity, sense of humor, positive outlook, brilliant mind, compassion, fun-loving nature, hard work, honesty and integrity (not to mention his rendition of “Chattanooga Choo Choo”). It was these qualities that touched the lives of all who knew him. Visitation will be on Friday, September 16, 2016 from 11:00 a.m. till 12:00 p.m. at St. Benilde Catholic Church, 1901 Division Street, Metairie, LA 70001, followed by mass at 12:00 p.m. The burial will begin at 1:30 p.m. at All Saints Mausoleum located in Lake Lawn Metairie Cemetery, 5100 Ponchartrain Blvd., New Orleans, LA 70124. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Benilde Catholic Church, 1901 Division Street, Metairie, LA 70001. Tel. (504) 834-4980.