James David Napoleon Maynard

James David Napoleon Maynard, born on August 7, 1971 in Honolulu, Hawaii, passed away on September 1, 2015. James is survived by his wife Christina Maynard, his children Ian and Emily, his mother Mary Maynard of Ithaca, NY, his father Paul Maynard of Palm Springs, CA, and his sister Nancy Toffolo, nephew, River, niece, Skyler, of Ithaca, NY.

James grew up in Orlando, Florida, and graduated from Colonial High School in 1989. He then moved to Berkley, California, where he graduated from the University of California at Berkeley in 2002 with a degree in History with High Honors. He married his wife Christina, in 2002 in Berkeley, and they eventually settled in Sacramento so that he could attend law school at the McGeorge School of law. He received his JD in Law, with Distinction, in 2006. While there, he was a Law Review Staff Writer, a research and teaching Assistant; and was the Law Review Editorial Board-Chief Symposium Editor. He previously was employed at Downey Brand, served at the California Department of Consumer Affairs as general counsel for the State Athletic Commission, worked for Cole Cotta, LLP. He also had his own law firm, Maynard Law, from 2011 – 2014. At the time of his death, James was a managing partner at the Sacramento office for Silver & Wright, LLP. In this position, he served the City of Ione since June 2011, served the Bethel Island Municipal Improvement District since August 2010 and also served as Special Counsel to the Cities of San Rafael and Galt. He had also been appointed to the League of Cities Legal Advocacy Committee for a two-year term through June 2015. James loved the Cal Bears, the ocean, reading, barbecuing, and most importantly, spending time with his children.

A trust fund has been set up for James's children at Golden One Credit Union, Acct # 75020130, for those who wish to contribute. Services were held on September 7, 2015. Thank you to all who have touched James's life and have reached out to the family. He will be dearly missed, especially by his children.