James Takacs, 47, lawyer, former prosecutor

JAMES D. TAKACS

For James D. Takacs, the first weekend in June meant his younger daughter, Grace, would have her first Holy Communion and a dance recital, events he absolutely could not miss. The father of two had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer months earlier, but he persuaded his doctors to grant him "day passes."

"It just exemplifies what his family meant to him. He sat through the whole thing. God knows what kind of discomfort he was in," said his wife of 16 years, Alison (Kaminski). "He was not going to miss that recital for anything."

Mr. Takacs, a Boston lawyer and former prosecutor in the Middlesex district attorney's office, died Monday at Lahey Clinic Medical Center in Burlington. He was 47.

Mr. Takacs was born in Groton, Conn. He grew up in Lexington and graduated from Lexington High School in 1979. He received a bachelor's degree in political science and English from the University of Rochester in New York and a doctor of jurisprudence degree from Boston University Law School. Mr. Takacs lived in Maynard before moving to Acton in 2001.

Scott Harshbarger recruited Mr. Takacs, his former student at Boston University Law School, to work under him when he was Middlesex County district attorney. He said Mr. Takacs rapidly became a "rising star."

"He was a brilliant student. He was very mature, very skilled, and very wise," he said. "I had the good fortune to watch this young man grow as an assistant district attorney and serve the people of Middlesex County extremely well."

Harshbarger said Mr. Takacs was well respected.

"This illness just hit everybody, not only the sadness of an early life cut short but everything he did personally and professionally and how everybody felt about Jim," said Harshbarger, who also has served as state attorney general.

While working for the district attorney Mr. Takacs met his wife, an intern. They wed in 1992. Before Grace and their older daughter, Rosemary, were born, they often went to country music concerts, NASCAR races, and the theater.

Mr. Takacs joined the Boston law firm of White, Inker and Aronson in 1994 and specialized in family law. In 2003, he joined the Boston firm of Casner & Edwards, LLP as a partner in the firm's family law practice.

Patrice Morse, a co-worker at both firms, called Mr. Takacs her mentor for his patience, willingness to teach, and lack of ego. She said his trial confidence and trustworthiness gained him the respect of his co-workers, younger associates, and judges.

"He wasn't a lawyer to be a fighter," she said. "He was in it to be a counselor and to help people find an answer and to get the right result. He had a calm gentleness that made people comfortable, and he was very bright."

Mr. Takacs especially enjoyed being an adjunct professor at Boston College Law School, a job he began in 2002, said Morse. He also participated in Senior Partners for Justice, a pro-bono project of 450 Massachusetts lawyers who volunteer to work with low-income clients.

Martin Aronson, who worked with him at the law firm and taught with Mr. Takacs at Boston College for more than a decade, said his colleague would always think before speaking, evidenced by a thoughtful pause before answering students' questions, followed by what Aronson called a concise, professional response.

"He was a terrific teacher who treated his students as professionals. His approach with them was always direct, to the point, and considerate," he said.

Paul Kane, a partner with Boston-based McGrath & Kane, met Mr. Takacs in trial about a dozen years ago. "Lawyers talk about trying cases against another lawyer," Kane said. "But with Jim, you tried a case with Jim because he was always cooperative and respectful and a pleasure to be in court with."

Colleagues were particularly impressed by how Mr. Takacs balanced his personal and professional lives, Morse said. Mr. Takacs took his family to a Red Sox game on many a Mother's Day and made Red Sox dates with his daughters. He also jumped at the opportunity to work on the stage crew after his wife and daughters got involved in dance and community theater.

"His work life revolved around his daughters' plays. He'd leave at 4 to go hold up scenery or make costumes," Morse said. "His daughters were his priority."

This past summer, Mr. Takacs received his Rite of Christian Initiation, becoming baptized into the Catholic Church as an adult, his wife said. The rite is usually performed on Easter, but the Archdiocese of Boston granted Mr. Takacs's church permission to baptize him in a special ceremony because of his illness.

"No matter where he was, he mentored anyone. He never said he didn't have time," his wife said.

In addition to his wife and daughters, Mr. Takacs leaves his parents, Donna and Frank Joseph Takacs of Lexington; and two brothers, John of Acton and Richard of Dunkirk, Md.

A funeral Mass will be said at 11:30 a.m. today in St. Elizabeth of Hungary Catholic Church in Acton. Burial will be in Mount Hope Cemetery in West Acton.