Uniquely Jim

1. While attending a school conference in Colorado, Jim and Ruth visited nearby Rocky Mountain National Park. In a wild coincidence, they just happened to walk past a couple and recognize them as Annie and Willard Johnson, the parents of Mary, who was Ruth’s brother Pat’s wife. Here Jim stands beside his trusty yellow Plymouth Fury III along with Annie and Willard.

2. For a time TheTustin News (purchased by the OC Register in 1995) ran a series called Citizens of Tustin that included an series on what Tustinites did to stay fit. This image was from that article and featured Jim jogging on the field at Thorman Elementary School/Currie Middle School as the sun came up (Sycamore Ave at Red Hill Ave; now Sycamore Magnet Academy). Steve recalls attending the early morning photoshoot.

3. Jim was always an athlete. He played baseball endlessly as a kid, participated in collegiate sports, served as coach at Baltimore High School, actively played basketball and softball with students at Red Hill Lutheran and other schools, and was coach at Good Shepherd Lutheran School in Simi Valley. While living in Tustin in the early 1980s, Jim decided to run the LA Marathon. We couldn’t find an image from the marathon, but this image was from a preparatory 10K run at a regional park in Irvine. Jim successfully completed the LA Marathon in 1984.

4. Jim and the Lone Cypress in Pebble Beach along the Monterey Bay Peninsula.

5. Jim with life-long friend Don Larson at Angel Stadium in August 2012.

6. Jim participating in a Harvest Festival at Ascension Lutheran Church in Thousand Oaks.

7. Jim with former Los Angeles Dodgers Manager Tommy Lasorda at a “Trunk-or-Treat” event held at Ascension Lutheran Church in Thousand Oaks. Jim’s Caltrans worker costume was in honor of Nathan’s employment with the agency.

8. Jim and his endless pride in his family.

9. Jim proudly displayed accomplishments of his four children on the walls of the Camarillo garage, dubbing them The Walls of Fame. This wall was dedicated to his son Dave and included some of Dave’s artwork.

10. The wall proudly dedicated to his daughter Debbie, featuring her dedication to her family and work.

11. The wall proudly dedicated to Tim and Steve, both of whom retired as sergeants with the California Highway Patrol.

12. Jim at Balanced Rock, Garden of the Gods Park in Colorado Springs.

13. Jim in November 2021 on a trip with Dave standing in front of Whittier Towers, 215 Bright Ave, where his parents lived for a time.

The classic warm and affable Jim smile.