I hope to capture the character and admiration I have for this man, my brother, in these few words.
I did not even know that he was my brother until I was 21 years old after receiving a letter from our father relating that he reunited with his two children from a previous marriage after a separation of thirty- five years. I was stationed in Germany serving in the US Air Force in 1965 when I learned that I had two new brothers, Jim and his older brother George.
I first met Jim a year later in Castro Valley, CA. on my way to a reassignment to Korea from the West Coast. He was married with two daughters. Mary Jill age 11. Jennifer at age 18. I don’t remember Jim mentioning beforehand that his oldest Jennifer was getting married the very week that I was there. With this visit, I first learned of his unassuming nature and humility. Even though he was preparing for the marriage of his oldest daughter, he gave me his unselfish time and attention as he welcomed me to his family.
As the years passed there were get-togethers both in RI and California. Two experiences come to mind. Here in RI, we celebrated my Mom’s birthday with a family reunion each year. Jim attended one year toting an extensive assortment of professional camera equipment. I learned first hand his motivation to excel in any endeavor, even if it was only the hobby of photography. The other memory is when my wife Dottie and I went out to California when Jim and his new dear wife Cathie lived in San Jose. Even with balancing responsible jobs, they were most hospitable in making us comfortable and served as travel guides in assuring we saw the best of the Bay Area.
In these last few years Dottie and I developed a stronger and more personal relationship with Jim with two trips; one to San Luis Obispo and the most recent in Solvang only a few months ago. In his nineties then single after losing his wife Cathie, he was living at Acacia Creek Retirement Home. During these visits, he shared more about his childhood, war time service, and career. In reliving his memories, we became closer to him. We came to love him dearly. We learned of the hardship of his growing up under difficult circumstances with his parent’s troubling marriage which resulted in his unfortunate separation with his father at six years old. Later while assimilating into a young life with his mother and a step-father, he endured as he matured into a young man. He entered the Navy after high school and was present at Pearl Harbor in December 1941. He escaped harm but later demonstrated his courage in engaging in combat missions in the Pacific during World War II. After discharge, he was to become an accomplished engineer displaying his intelligence without benefit of a formal education. He was to work on significant atomic energy projects in this profession.
At Acacia Creek, he unselfishly took on responsibilities leading charity drives and took leadership of the Over-90’s Group. He stayed active and independent even still driving his own car. At Solvang, he showed the vigor and agility of a man much younger than his years. We also saw his compassion for his family and his generosity. This would be the lasting memory we have of him.
We miss him so much. We wish we had more time with him throughout his life but living on different coasts did not permit this to happen. May God bless him as he joins his wife Cathie in heaven. With sympathy to his daughters Jennifer and Mary Jill as well his surviving siblings and numerous nephews and nieces, we grieve with you on his passing into eternal life.
Brother Ron
