James Quentin Riordan

James Q. Riordan (1927-2024) died peacefully on August 9, 2024 in Stuart, Florida.  He is survived by his beloved wife Gloria, to whom he was married for an astonishing 73 years, his four children, Harris, Susan, James Jr., and Ruth, and his five grandchildren, Margaret, Amanda, Robert, James, and Jordan, all of whom he adored. Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, Jim epitomized the best of the borough. Jim graduated from Townsend Harris High School in 1942 and Brooklyn College in 1945. He earned his law degree from Columbia Law School, graduating in 1949 and paying his tuition via the GI Bill. A WWII veteran, Jim, served in the United States Navy in 1945 and 1946.

After graduating from law school, Jim worked for Winthrop Stimson Putnam & Roberts, specializing in tax law. He went on to work in Washington DC for an investigating subcommittee of the Ways and Means Committee and then for the Tax Division of the Justice Department. Returning to NY, Jim began working for the Mobil Oil Corporation as a tax attorney and worked at Mobil in finance and management for 32 years, retiring in 1989 as Vice Chairman.

Jim was a devoted supporter of Brooklyn institutions, serving on the boards of The Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sciences, The Brooklyn Museum, The Brooklyn Botanic Gardens, The Brooklyn Academy of Music, the Brooklyn Children’s Museum, and Brooklyn Hospital. He served additionally on the boards of the Public Broadcast System (PBS) and the Tax Foundation. Jim served on corporate boards including Mobil Oil, Dow Jones, and Brooklyn Union Gas, among others.   

Jim was an accomplished athlete, recalling fondly his role as a starting pitcher for the Brooklyn College varsity baseball team, and for one season with the Class D Minor League Kingston Dodgers (the Brooklyn Dodgers farm team), from which he was eventually “released for lack of talent,” as he wryly put it. He was a superb golfer throughout his life.  

Jim’s keen intellect, sense of humor, generosity, and humility endeared him to family, friends, and colleagues. He will be deeply missed.