Patricia Twitty
Jim was truly a National Treasure. He lived through a century of changes and loved telling stories of all he had seen and done. He traveled the world, visiting places the rest of us would only hope to see and never tired of adventure. My sister Kathy was his travel agent for decades and helped him plan most of his adventures. They became lifelong friends and we all considered Jim part of our family. He called himself our "Pa".
His curiosity about the world and all in it continued even when his travel days were over. He read four publications every day and loved to send newspaper clippings to friends and receive them as well. I loved finding fat envelopes with his distinctive handwriting in the mail because I knew he had found something interesting for me to read.
He loved sports, especially horse racing and often told stories of learning to play the ponies during his days in San Diego when he frequented the racetracks in San Diego and Tijuana, Mexico where he met and learned a lot about betting from Rochester from the old Amos and Andy show.
Jim was the most kind and generous man I have ever known. He never missed a birthday or special occasion and no one who visited him ever went home empty-handed. He had an endless supply of food, magazines, and other goodies waiting for all his visitors, and in the days when he could still drive would arrive with a car laden with gifts on every visit. Once you were Jim's friend you were his friend forever.
Jim had a twinkle in his eye and a laugh you could never forget and loved a good joke. His zest for life was contagious and you couldn't be around him without a smile on your face. Who else but Jim would send a Christmas card when he was 98 years old with a photo of himself dressed in a red jumpsuit and Santa hat, showing off his new four-wheeled scooter and ramp? There will never be another like him. Ever.