James (Jim) E. Pointer III, MD, died Saturday, August 26, 2023 at Kaiser Hospital in Santa Rosa, California. He struggled for 37 days post-surgery to correct bowel issues caused by radiation associated with contracting Hodgkin’s
cancer when he was 40. Jim was born on January 10, 1949 in Richmond, Va., and was the son of J. Edgar Pointer Jr. and Catherine J. Pointer of Gloucester, Va., and was 74 years old. Jim attended Gloucester High School (Salutatorian 1966), University of Virginia (graduated with Honors) and Tufts Medical School in Boston. He worked as an Emergency-Trauma Physician in Santa Rosa, Oakland, San Francisco, Calif., and Fort Lauderdale, Fla. He held the position of Director of Emergency Medical Services for the City and County of San Francisco and later as the Medical Director for the County of Alameda, Calif., Dept. of Emergency Medical Services. He retired and lived in Petaluma, Calif., after living in Marin County, Calif., for most of his working career. Jim worked hard to improve the knowledge, quick response and proper training of EMS professionals in public agencies and his work in standards and protocols for EMS agencies is now a standard in many parts of our country. Jim was tirelessly dedicated to that effort and received many awards and recognition for his extensive knowledge and work in Emergency Medical Services. Jim is survived by his wife, Leslie of Petaluma; his daughter, Justine; son-in-law David; his granddaughter, Ava of Brooklyn, N.Y.; his brother, Steven and sister-in-law Peggy Miller of Ukiah, Calif.; his niece, Andrea Pointer Kersey and her husband Andrew Kersey of Petaluma, and aunt, Marian Clements of Bena, Va. Jim was a world traveler spending time in over 50 countries around the world. He spoke fluent Spanish, loved baseball, running, fishing and gardening, and was a lifelong learner. Ham radio operator, KD6FBO, is now a “Silent Key.” Friends can contact his brother Steve: sdpointer@gmail.com.