Deceased January 13, 2023
View alumni profile (log in required)
Read obituary
IN MEMORY
The headmaster of Shattuck Military School near St. Paul, Minn., advised Jim to apply to Amherst. Dean Wilson approved, so Jim arrived in 1948 after changing trains, catching a bus and walking to campus with one suitcase. He was clearly from Lake Wobegon years before that became famous, and he later comfortably adopted this persona with his East Coast friends.
Jim joined DU, majored in poli sci and English, and always attributed his love of writing to Robert Frost’s influence. He “remained an eternal student at heart,” as recalled by his son.
Post-Amherst, Jim found government work in Washington and then got drafted but was soon reassigned to Washington to continue as a “code breaker.”
He entered law school at George Washington University, leaving early to help his father in his St. Paul business. Jim continued law studies part time, graduating in 1958 from St. Paul College of Law (where Harry Blackmun had served as professor and trustee). This began his 45-year professional career.
Libby, whom Jim married in 1960, was a California transplant who graduated from Shattuck-St. Mary’s School and the University of Minnesota with a skiing background, librarian credentials and an art history degree. After moving to Duluth, Minn., they bought their “first and forever” house, a grand but faded Tudor Revival in need of major renovation to emerge as a warm home for family, large dogs and entertaining. Jim added two tennis courts on its extensive grounds that became a popular community spot for all comers, with Libby a constant doubles partner and son Will gaining the skill to become captain of his college team.
Volunteer work was a given for the Prest family, extending currently to the InnerCity Tennis foundation, which reaches 6,000 young people.
Jim died Jan. 13, 2023, and Libby only five months later.
Nick Evans ’52