Corte Madera

With deep sadness, we share the passing of James Andrew Lawson- known to all as Andy- on February 5, 2025, following a courageous battle with brain cancer.

Andy graduated from Redwood High School in 1980 and went on to earn both his undergraduate and his law degree at the University of Colorado, graduating Phi Beta Kappa in 1998. He practiced law both in Colorado and California, as he continued to build a life centered around adventure, exploration, and deep connections with those he loved.

He took enormous pleasure in the outdoors, with the challenges and rewards of adventure. Whether riding all over Mt. Tam on his Stingray bike as a kid (with the iconic banana seat) long before mountain biking became mainstream, or hitting the ski slopes at every chance, Andy had a passion for exploring the world around him.

Throughout his childhood and into high school, Andy loved baseball and music. However, it was bicycling that truly defined his later years. Living in Colorado, he pursued competitive cycling and ended up racing all over the world. A teammate from those years tells us: “I remember Andy being a tough-as-nails bike racer, and a teammate you were happy to have on your side.”

In time, racing gave way to serious skiing, surfing and sailing, but above all, Andy’s greatest joy was being a father. One of his closest friends shared: “After his daughters came into Andy’s his life, he became a completely new person. He kept all his characteristics related to physical and emotional strength but now had a brand new super soft and caring side.”

Andy will be remembered as a generous, free-spirited soul, full of determination and grit, known for his unmistakable laugh, his zest for life, and his unwavering loyalty to those he loved. His life was full, and although he was not ready for it to come to an end, he faced his final days with remarkable courage and grace. He is survived by his daughters, Eleanor and Annabel Lawson; their mother, Kelly Lawson; and his sisters, Susan Moreno (Tom), Melinda Lawson, and Beth Nervo (Dave), and several nieces and nephews.

A memorial service is being planned for June 21, 11:30am.We will be at The Spinnaker in Sausalito. To be in touch with the family please use this email lawsonfamily1950@gmail.com. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Andy’s memory By the Bay Health https://bythebayhealth.org/. Or, to the Surfrider Foundation (https://www.surfrider.org/)