My sincere condolences to Jim’s Family and friends.
Upon receiving the news from Bill Fay I commented back very briefly that it was sad news to hear and that Jim was there on day one of my teaching career.
I didn’t expand longer then but I do now. By day one of my teaching in Wilmington I include the fact that in the May before the September I started teaching in the classroom, I was interviewed at both the North and West Intermediates and Jim was in on the Interview with Principal Tony DeLuca. Only Principal Bob Barrett interviewed me at the West.
The North position was 7/8 Grade split. The West was all 6th Grade. After both interviews the Superintendent, I Harold Shea asked me in his office which school I preferred, I said the North because of 7/8 Grade. Joe Connelly got the West position which is what he wanted.
I was always conscious that Jim had input in getting my job at the North. I’m sure Tony DeLuca deferred to Jim on the Science part of the Interview and my name was put forward for the job opening at the North. So day one of my career there, in effect was before my actual classroom teaching career. And Jim was there. We worked side by side for my forty years in Wilmington as science teachers and Jim as my Principal at the West Intermediate School. Never an unpleasant moment. A true gentleman in every sense of the word. RIP, Jim.
Dan Spriggs