In Memoriam – James P. Harrang

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our colleague, mentor, and friend, James P. Harrang, on December 11, 2017. He was 94. Jim suffered a fall while climbing Spencer’s Butte and broke his hip. He died during surgery. For those of us who knew Jim, it is difficult to accept the fact of his mortality, but it is also hard to imagine a more fitting or merciful passing. Jim loved being in the great outdoors. Whether it was snow camping at a firm retreat or skinny dipping in the cold, deep pools of the upper McKenzie, Jim pushed his much younger colleagues well beyond their comfort range to soak up all that his native Oregon had to offer. As his son Jeff observed, Jim would have hated the long recovery process in a hospital bed that inevitably would have followed successful surgery. It is easy to imagine him saying “I think I’ll just jump off here and see what comes next.” Fair winds and following seas, Jim.

Jim came before the bar in 1954 after serving in the famous 10th Mountain Division in World War II. In 1957, he was a founding partner of what is now Harrang Long Gary Rudnick P.C. He was an active member of the firm and chair of the board well into his 86th year. He is survived by his four children, Jeff, Kevin, Signe, and Karen. His beloved wife, Nadine, predeceased him.

Even in retirement, Jim was the spiritual leader of this firm. Although he was a man of strong opinions and unwavering convictions, we never heard him say an unkind word about anyone. Most of what we learned from Jim, we learned through his example. He was a man of few words. Several years ago, however, he jotted down “Seven Rules to Live By”:

• Strive to give your clients their money’s worth.
• Do every job in a manner such that, when you do it again, you can do it better.
• Strive for perfection.
• Never be satisfied with what you do.
• Be honest.
• Avoid conceit. The human race is flawed.
• Be kind, for every person you meet is fighting a great battle.

We will honor his memory if we strive to follow his wise counsel.

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