Sad News - PC has lost a member & friend - jimofdg

I only knew of Jim through Priuschat, and even though I knew him only on a limited basis, I still know how much of a part of Priuschat he was, and that he will be sorely missed here. My well wishes, thoughts, and smypathies go out to all his family and close friends. And I know all of us here will miss you too, Jim.

-m.

such sad news, jim was a real positive part of our community, our prius-driving family. best to jim, wherever he may be, and his family left here on earth.

I am truly saddened by this turn of life. Jim was a great guy, full of enthusiaism for those passions in his life. He even helped me get my Prius from the same dealer in the UP of Michigan. I will miss him.

Wayne

Sad news he had a good sense of humor and made me smile. Not enough of that in the world.

Here is something to give a better feel of who Jim was.

Chicago Tribune

Wayne

This truly is a sad news. My condolences and prayers are with his family and friends. RIP.

I tried to write something before, and just couldn't get out anything that sounded right. Jim was one of those very genuinely nice and entertaining guys. He was one of our more respected members, and he will be missed immensely. Let us hope for the best for his family in these times. Let us also remember his impact on this site, and let his tradition live on.

jimofdg

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Why can't you be a nonconformist like everybody else?

I didn't know Jim, but I would have liked to. So sorry to see him pass at such a young age. RIP my friend.

wow what a bummer, my condolences to his family

While I am new to this forum, I feel for Jim's family... He sounds as though he was a fantastic guy and it is an honor that his car was chosen for the calendar.. I will have to place my order for it....

Life is so very short... I always remind myself of that each and everyday...

Caroline

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Danny @ Mar 31 2006, 12:32 AM) [snapback]232795[/snapback]</div>

I would be happy to contribute to the cause. Anyone else out there?


I would also like to mention that I have been struck how many Prius Chat members over the months have been touched enough by Jim and his life to follow the link above to my post on Jim and read more about him.

For those of you who have never seen a photo of Jim, here is a quick look, sorry it is so low-res. I was on the late shift at the Hospital last night. More on that later. I would show one with Jan & Kevin but I'd have to get their permission first.

[attachmentid=2799]

My web counter can tell if a visitor has been referred by a search engine or a link at a website, say a post in this forum, and to get a sense of where people have been coming from I check it periodically. In the month's since Jim's death it seems like someone has come from here at least 6 or 7 times a week, sometimes more than two or three in the same day. Of course I never know who it is, it could all be one person, but I doubt it.

Well, I wanted to say thanks. All those visits have meant a lot to me, as one who cannot afford a Prius until they have been used for some time, the regular reminder that there were oh so many others who valued Jim as I did has been very helpful in the healing process for me, and I am very greatful to you for that.

The healing process has been a long one for me and it is not yet over. I've known Jim since I was 12, that's 34 years give or take a few months. I said 33 before, but I forgot that I turned 13 after meeting Jim in High School. And of course, I have been luckier than those in this group, unless someone here has known him in person for as long and is lurking, because I had the benefit of his friendship all those years.

Gosh, I wish you could have seen him on stage. Normally fairly quiet, Jim Blossomed on stage. David in David & Lisa, Radcliffe in Richard the III, and his funniest role Edsel in "Near West Side Story".

Lately he had gotten back into theater and I had had a chance to see him in a few roles again. Liza's Father in My Fair Lady, one of the Traveling Salesmen in The Music Man and a few other things. And once in awhile he and I would sing together. One year we sang Closer to Fine at a talent show in Hyde Park. What harmonies Jim was capable of.

His love for Jan and Kevin was another thing. I worked for him for 18 years and in one way or another, spoken or unspoken, his love for them came up or was expressed by him one way or another nearly every day. Even if he was upset about this or that, it never seemed to alter his love for them.

The Prius was the kind of front edge technology that Jim loved to be involved with. Like the Mac, the Palm and the iPod, the environmental and Gas efficient Prius was just the sort of thing to appeal to Jim's Jesuit trained conscious and his Harvard (3 years!) sense of economics. Yeah, he was brilliant too. Almost a photographic sense of detail, yet not at all snobby. It would usually only come up in an interview or when another Ivy Leaguer was trying to play the intimidation game.

I always enjoyed the shocked look on their face when Jim would let loose a small detail that would lead them to conclude that he went to Harvard without actually saying so. It was very much fun to see some of them half strangle with the desire to ask the question, but afraid to hear the answer.

Yet Jim, without fanfare and hoopla did some of the most important work ever done in the history of CTA and his legacy will be long-lasting. Thanks again for the support. I guess I am dwelling on Jim tonight because my Mom is about to join him, her cancer was discovered at what appears to be the very,very,very end of stage III. That is days, rather than weeks, perhaps hours.

Pray for them both if you have a chance.

Jan is doing as well as can be expected. Probably better than me this week because of the mom stress. But Jan was always the fiesty survivor pragmatist. Still I pray for her and Kevin every day.

Let me know what my share of the memorial is.

Peter, The Peter Files Blog
The Peter Files Blog For People Who Are Trying To Suppress Yucky Feelings With Laughter