Former Ann Arbor Mayor James Stephenson, 83, passed away today after a long-term illness according to his son John Stephenson. James Stephenson was a longtime patent lawyer in Ann Arbor and he was elected mayor in 1973 and served one term. He opposed the $5 marijuana ordinance in the city of Ann Arbor. James Stephenson said that the ordinance made Ann Arbor a laughingstock.

James Stephenson was born in Iowa in 1926. He grew up during the Depression and worked after-school jobs so that he will have the funds to go to engineering school at Iowa State University. He made his way through law school by working as an examiner at the U.S. Patent office in Washington, D.C. Before he started a two-man practice in 1961, he worked in law firms in Iowa and Michigan. He retired in 2001.

In the 1960s, James Stephenson became active in the Republican Party in Ann Arbor. He was elected the 4th Ward City Council representative in 1968. He became the leader of Republicans on council/

“He was always interested in improving the community around him,” John Stephenson said. “He was a great guy. He was a great guy to my mom, to his kids, to his baseball team and to his friends. I don’t know anybody who didn’t treasure their relationship or their association with Jim Stephenson.”

His first wife died of Lou Gehrig’s diseasein 1970. Stephenson then raised millions for research in prevention of the disease.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at First Presbyterian Church, 1432 Washtenaw in Ann Arbor. Following the service, a family reception will be held at the Ann Arbor City Club, 1830 Washtenaw Ave. Arrangements are by Generations Funeral and Cremation Services, Ann Arbor.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the ALS Association or Arbor Hospice.

Find an Ann Arbor News in the Directory of Ann Arbor, MI.