James Pratt Sinclair, 1938-2026

James (Jimmy) Pratt Sinclair, beloved husband, father, grandfather, decorated sailor, and "true gentleman" of finance, passed away peacefully at his home in New York City on January 26, 2026, at 87.

Born on February 19, 1938, to Dr. James Ward Sinclair and Harriet Jones Sinclair in Washington, D.C., Jimmy’s life was defined by a competitive spirit and quiet integrity.  He was famous as a master storyteller with an uncanny memory for the people and events of a bygone era. His intellect, kindness, and passion allowed him to live life to the fullest, to the very end. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him. 

Raised in the horse country of Warrenton, Virginia, his early years were a prelude to his life of adventure, which took him from Nova Scotia during World War II to the halls of St. Albans, Princeton University, and UVA’s Darden School of Business. An accomplished rider in his youth, he found great joy fox hunting with the Warrenton Hunt and competing in steeplechases, notably claiming victory at the Casanova Hunt Point-to-Point. Later he served as an honorary Patrol Judge at the Virginia Gold Cup races. 

His pursuit of what would become a successful career in finance led him to Tuxedo Park and New York City, but Jimmy’s center of gravity was on the back of a horse or at the helm of a boat. On the water, Jimmy truly lived and breathed. From his youth on Chapoquoit Island racing Beetle Cats and 110s, he grew into an accomplished sailor and navigator. His victories included winning the intercollegiate McMillan Cup as co-captain of the Princeton Sailing Team and the Read Cup against the British during his Navy service, along with various awards at the Edgartown Yacht Club Annual Regatta, where he first raced in 1953. Jimmy never lost his edge. His success continued in the IMS/PHRF races on the East Coast in the 1990s and 2000s. In more recent years, he could be found racing a J/70—perhaps a younger man’s boat—an endeavor that resulted in a good-spirited annual pilgrimage to the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital emergency room. 

Jimmy’s family and friends were a joy in his life, and he was dedicated to those around him and causes close to him, most notably leading Kent School’s capital campaign in the early 2000s. With his wife of 43 years, Daisy, he delighted in evenings at the opera and theater, in discovering hot new restaurants, and in traveling the world together. 

Jimmy was predeceased by his beloved wife, Daisy. He is survived by his sons Jay (Sherry) and Ian (Stephanie), and their mother, Ellie; sons Duncan and Crick (Mandy); and grandchildren Clay, Parker, Jackson, and Maggie. He also leaves behind his sister Pennie Hare and her children Hugh, Fred, and Kris. 

A memorial service will be held at The Brick Presbyterian Church in New York City on April 25th at 2pm. Donations can be made in lieu of flowers to the Squadron A Foundation or Memorial Sloan Kettering.