James Vardell Obituary

James Cain Vardell III, 70, died in the loving presence of family on May 17th, 2025. James (known as Jamie to friends and family) was born December 18th, 1954 in Columbia, South Carolina, the son of Dr. James C. Vardell Jr. and Elizabeth Cole Vardell.

Jamie received his bachelor's degree from Washington and Lee University in 1977, and his J.D. from Yale Law School in 1980. Following law school, Jamie moved to New York to begin his career with Cravath, Swaine, and Moore. Jamie was made partner at Cravath in 1987, dedicating his professional life to the firm until his retirement in 2014. During his time at Cravath, Jamie worked in the Corporate Department focusing on finance transactions. Jamie also committed his professional time to pro bono work for the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering (NACME).

While in Virginia attending Washington and Lee University, Jamie met his wife Elizabeth Updegraff Vardell. The couple married in St. Petersburg, Florida in 1983, enjoying 42 years of marriage. During that time, they made Larchmont, New York their home where they raised four children (Elizabeth Brooks Vardell, James Cain Vardell IV, William Gadsden Vardell, and Thomas Hamilton Vardell). They have since welcomed two granddaughters (Blake Elizabeth Vardell and Elaine Evelyn Hoff). Jamie was an active member of the community in Larchmont, where he served on the vestry of St. John's Episcopal Church and acted as head of the vestry during the major remodel of the church's worship space in 2012.

While Larchmont was a long way from the state Jamie felt most at home in, his beloved South Carolina, he and his wife dreamed and built a space for themselves outside of Charleston. The project started as land and a dock and grew into a home the family call Boardwalk. Jamie valued his stewardship of the property and was devoted to managing the space in a way that promoted healthy wildlife and wetland. Nature conservation was at the heart of his efforts for the property for 27 years. Boardwalk was built for family and friends; Jamie was happiest when entertaining those he loved on the property. The couple eventually retired to Charleston, SC where Jamie was able to enjoy the home he had created.

Jamie was also an avid golfer. He valued sportsmanship, modeling this in every aspect of his life and instilling this value in his children. He was steadily methodical, whether it be working through a major legal deal or finding a set of car keys. Jamie's patience and loyalty were cornerstones of his daily life and valued by everyone who loved him.

Jamie was a devoted husband, father, and friend who has left an indelible mark on the lives of those he leaves behind.

The family would like to extend thanks to Martha Jefferson House and Trinity Hospice for their care and support.

Funeral services will be held at St. John's Episcopal Church (Larchmont, New York) on Saturday, May 31st at 11am.

Memorial donations in Jamie's name may be directed to:

- The Lewy Body Dementia Association: https://www.lbda.org/donate/

- Lowcountry Land Trust: https://lowcountrylandtrust.org/donate/

- The National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering: https://www.nacme.org/give

- St. John's Episcopal Church, Larchmont: https://stjohnslarchmont.org/giving/