James A. Urban

James A. Urban of St. Petersburg, Florida, died at St. Anthony's Hospital, on February 26, 2011. He was born in West Palm Beach, Florida on February 18, 1927. He attended public schools in Miami. He lived in Orlando from 1953 until 1997 when he moved to Clearwater. He had lived in St. Petersburg since 2000. He is survived by a daughter, Katherine Elizabeth (Beth) Urban, of Orlando, a sister, Mary Jane Urban, of New Smyrna Beach, and his long time friend and partner, Timothy A. Lanz, of St. Petersburg. His wife, Alice Steed Urban, and his son, James Arthur Urban, Jr. preceded him in death. He was an attorney and practiced law in Orlando from 1953 until his retirement in 1994. At the time of his retirement he was a shareholder of Carlton Fields, one of Florida's oldest and largest law firms. He was graduated from Duke University in 1950 with the Bachelor of Arts degree. He received the degree of Juris Doctor with High Honors from the University of Florida in 1953. He served as a member of the President's Council of the University of Florida, as a member of the Council of Advisors of Florida State University, and as a member of the Board of Visitors of the College of Law at Florida State University. He was recipient of the Outstanding Alumnus Award of the University of Florida Law Review Alumni Association. He served as President of the Orange County Bar Association in 1966-1967 and as President of The Florida Bar in 1974-1975. He was a Fellow of The Florida Bar Foundation and served as President of the Foundation in 1977-1979. He was a Fellow and Life Member of the American Bar Foundation. He served as a member of the House of Delegates of the American Bar Association, as a Director of the Section of Bar Activities of the American Bar Association, and as a member of the Committee on Federal Judicial Improvements of the American Bar Association. He was a member of the American Law Institute. He served as a Director of the National Conference of Bar Foundations. He was a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel and a Fellow of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers. He was an Episcopalian and a long time member of The Cathedral Church of St. Luke in Orlando, which he served in a number of capacities. He was a member of the Chapter (the lay governing body) of the Cathedral, and a member of the Executive Committee. He served as Chancellor of the Cathedral. He also served the Cathedral as Advisor to the Dean on Staffing and as a member of the Finance Commission. He served as Chairman of the Endowment Fund of the Cathedral. He was chairman of three major fund raising drives at the Cathedral. In 1997, he was Chairman of the Long Range Capital Funds Planning Committee that studied the long-range capital needs of the Cathedral and planned a capital funds drive that was successfully conducted the following year. After moving to St. Petersburg he worshiped at St. Peter's Episcopal Cathedral in St. Petersburg. He served as a Director of the Greater Orlando Chamber of Commerce, as a Director of the Florida Symphony Orchestra, as a Director of the American Red Cross, as a Director of WMFE public television (Channel 24 in Orlando), and as Chairman of the Professional Division of the United Way. He served in the United States Army during World War II. He was a member of the University Club of Orlando. A funeral service will be held at St. Peter's Cathedral, 140 Fourth Street North, St. Petersburg, Florida 33731 on Tuesday, March 1, 2011 at 10am. In lieu of flowers those desiring to do so may contribute to St. Peter's Episcopal Cathedral, 140 Fourth Street North, St. Petersburg, Florida 33731 or The Cathedral Church of St. Luke, 130 North Magnolia Avenue, Orlando, Florida 32801.