Jim decided it was time to retire from teaching in 1993. He wanted to spend time with his other interests, bands, golfing, grandkids.
Jim was very passionate about playing music his entire life. When he was in 6th grade he talked his parents into getting him a saxophone, he said it cost him his allowance for quite some time. From there he started his own band and began playing at the HS functions. He never wavered from that passion and played up until February of 2020. Jim played both the saxophone and clarinet. He played in two bands at one time through the years, the Music Makers and the Retired Rhythm Rascals. Many of their 'gigs' were at retirement homes through out the suburbs and in the city.
In his early retirement days you could find Jim on any given day at the Village Links golfing with friends. He was eventually diagnosed with macular degeneration in his left eye, which had him start to taper off his time on the golf course. This also gave him more time to dedicate to the band events. He and Shirley loved bowling and were frequently on bowling teams through the years. His three grandchildren inherited his skill of bowling and are naturals at throwing the ball. As a young man in HS Jim would frequent the pool hall/bowling alley at lunch time and in the evening. He was a pin setter and also became quite the pool shark. He was able to enjoy a few games of pool every evening before dinner with his son. For an 86 year old man with macular degeneration blinding him in his one eye, he shot phenomenally and rarely would lose a game.
