James Anthony Latty, PhD, PE

Westlake Village, CA

With love and in grief, the Latty family writes to let you know that Dr. James Anthony “Jim” Latty, 75, of Westlake Village, died unexpectedly on Thanksgiving Day 2021 after complications following surgery to remove colon cancer. He was surrounded and embraced by his family throughout his final night and day.

Jim was born on February 27, 1946 to Charles C. Latty and Mary Latty (Gray) and grew up in Saint Louis, MO. After attending McBride High School, he earned a BS in Chemical Engineering from Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla and a PhD from the University of California, Berkeley. A registered Professional Engineer for over fifty years and owner of JAL Engineering, Jim’s professional passion in life was solving all forms of scientific, engineering and business challenges. Name a field of industry and there is a good chance he worked in it at some point: water purification, alternative energy, crude oil and natural gas processing, viticulture, car care products, consumer electronics, forestry and agriculture. He loved meeting new people, working with clients and jumping into new fields of thought. Always with his eye towards research and development of new products and ideas, he was granted seven U.S. patents throughout his career. His can-do attitude sent him around the world on many different projects — across the U.S.A. and Europe, to Canada, Russia, Australia, China and Japan.

In 2020, Jim and his wife, Cathy Anne Latty (Lombardi), celebrated 50 years of marriage. They met in Berkeley during the Summer of Love, with an evening walk down Strawberry Creek and wed a year later in San Pedro at Holy Trinity Church close to Cathy’s family home. They raised their family first in San Juan Capistrano and then in Westlake Village. Jim was an active and hugely supportive father to his four children - seeing every adventure as an opportunity to love, learn and grow together.

Jim would often quote from 1 John 4:16 - God is Love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. His Catholic faith was the bedrock of his relationships and fueled his lifelong spiritual practice. For more than forty years he attended daily Mass — at St. Edward’s Catholic Church in Dana Point, CA and, since 2000, at St Jude’s Catholic Church in Westlake Village, CA where he was known as “bicycle man”, riding his bike to church every day at noon. Jim’s yearly commitment to a weekend silent retreat at Serra Retreat Monastery in Malibu was resolute, and often shared with his sons. He was a member of the Board of Regents for Thomas Aquinas College; the Board of Advisors for California Baptist University, School of Engineering and for the Department of Chemical Engineering, UC Riverside.

He is survived by his wife, Cathy; children, Stephen (Malaika Zweig) Latty, Sarah (Damien) Lennon, Jason & Maura Latty; grandchildren, Jacamo and Vivien; step-grandchildren, Tito & Gina; brothers, Charles (Veronica) Latty and Thomas Latty; and nieces and nephews, Elizabeth, Hilary, Samantha, Lisa, Christopher, Jon & Jeremy.  They will remember him as a beacon of good humor, committed faith, and unconditional love.

Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, December 8 at St. Jude The Apostle Catholic Church, 32032 W. Lindero Canyon Rd., Westlake Village. The Reverend Jim Stehly will officiate. For those wishing to attend remotely, St. Jude's will be streaming the service online via the following link: https://youtu.be/zIqabe1SKrE

In lieu of flowers and in celebration of Jim’s life, we ask that you consider a donation to Mary Health of the Sick, Thousand Oaks where the Servants of Mary, Ministers to the Sick, so kindly cared for his mother at the end of her life.