James L. Lears Jr., a partner at the accounting firm of Clifton Gunderson and an avid runner, died Thursday evening in his Towson home after suffering a possible stroke. He was 55.
The Baltimore native attended Mount Washington Country School and Calvert Hall College before receiving a bachelor's degree at the University of Maryland. At Loyola College he received a master's degree in taxation.
He served in the National Guard beginning in the late 1960s.
He married Catherine McLean Proutt in 1974.
Mr. Lears started out working at Charles Engineering, the family business, as his father's accountant. In 1977, he joined the accounting firm of Coyne & McLean; he stayed with the company after its merger with Clifton Gunderson three years ago and became a partner in the firm.
"I hired him 25 years ago," said Clifton Gunderson partner William Berndt. "It was the best thing I ever did for our firm. He inspired just about everybody. He worked harder than any two people I knew. He's as close to irreplaceable as we could have in this firm."
Waking up at 4:30 every morning was a ritual for Mr. Lears, who arrived at work by 5:30. His dedication and professional expertise were nationally recognized by Money magazine in 1987, when he was named as one of the top five tax advisers in the country. The publication also honored him as the most accurate tax preparer in Maryland in 1992.
"If I needed a CPA, Jim would be the person I would go to," said H. Terry Hancock, the partner-in-charge for Clifton Gunderson's Mid-Atlantic region. "He was technically extremely competent and efficient. Everyone in the office loved him. He was passionate about his work and a great public speaker. You could feel his excitement when he would speak about his specialty."
Running was his other passion. Mr. Lears ran several miles each day, sometimes during lunch or at 4 a.m.
"He ran any hour of the day," said his wife, who said he lived "the epitome of a healthy lifestyle. He didn't drink or smoke and he ate good food. He doesn't sound like that much fun, but he really was."
Her husband ran in the first Baltimore Marathon and five more after that, including the relay portion of this year's race as part of his company's team. He also ran in seven Boston Marathons, finishing ninth in 1975 with a time of 2:27 -- a personal best.
His eldest son, James L. Lears III of Lutherville, said that as a child he rode his bike alongside his father as he ran.
"We would go up big hills and he'd grab the back of my seat and push me a mile uphill," he said.
Last year, he ran a half-marathon in Jacksonville, Fla., with his daughter Jennifer Lears, who now lives in Philadelphia.
She said her father was always supportive of his children's interests. When she and her sister, Erin Lears of Towson, started swimming at the North Baltimore Aquatic Club, he became a volunteer treasurer for the organization.
Mrs. Lears said that while her husband's volunteer work with various organizations touched many lives, he balanced his workload with family life.
A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. tomorrow at the Church of the Redeemer, 5603 N. Charles St.
In addition to his wife, son and daughters, Mr. Lears is survived by his parents, Mary A. O'Connor and J. Lawrence Lears Sr. of Baltimore; brothers J. Michael Lears of Baltimore and Patrick A. Lears of London; sisters Louise O'Connor Lears of St. Louis, Mo., and Margaret O'Connor Lears, M. Kathleen Lears and Jane F. Lears, all of Baltimore; and many nieces and nephews.
The family suggests contributions to Boys Latin School, 822 W. Lake Ave., Baltimore 21210; the NBAC Endowment Fund, P.O. Box 20801, Baltimore 21209; or the Church of the Redeemer.