In Memory
James M. McCall
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James M. McCall
We are grateful to our fellow classmate, Tom Johnson, for the following information:
"Jim passed away July 16, 2023 in Phoenix at his daughter's home.. Per his daughter, Stacey, he had several strokes and was suffering from Alzheimer's. There was no obit."
Note: Many of our classmates have completed Profile Questions. Please take the time to click on their profile page to read what they told our class about themselves. It is a simple but worthy way to pay honor and tribute to them. And most of the time it will stir fond memories, if not a chuckle or two.
Julie R. Rhinehart (Waterfield)
It is so interesting to read about Jim's life...he sounds like he experienced it all..and with joy. His parents and he were a large part of early growing up at First Pres.: they were wonderful and I'll never forget their giving natures.
Bruce R. Baldwin
Jim sang with our folk quartet, the Summit CIty Singers (it sounded cool then) along with Paul Cochran and Dick Heasley (Elmhurst). We often practiced in my bedroom, and we continually cracked each other up with musical jokes as we worked on song arrangements. One night after we had finished, my mother commented, "Do you ever get any work done in there? All I can hear is a bunch of laughing."
Christie Counsman (Eberhardt)
Jim was a friend from church and classes. I loved his carefree humor and admired him and his folk singing buddies. For me they were as good as the Kingston Trio!Thomas F. Johnson
Fond memories of Jim.
I received a call at IU from Jim requesting that I be his best man in his wedding to Julie. "Of course' said I . When is the wedding"I asked:? Next Saturday was the answer. I explained that the next Saturday was the Purdue/IU game, and, if IU wins, we go to the Rose Bowl. Silence on the other end of the phone. "Okay Jim. I would be honored". During the wedding His Father, with a transister radio with an ear plug stuck in his ear, was giving me hand signals as to the progress of the game. On the other hand, his Mother was shooting daggers at both of us.
Our senior year, Jim was lamanting about how sad was his love life, and John Grandstaff came to the rescue. He explained to Jim that girls really liked guys who drank sloe gin.I told John that I thought that was a really bad idea, and why didn't he join Havlin, Skip, and myself memorizing Shakespeare’s sonnets and have lively discussionsabout the meaning of T. S. Elliot poetry. Being a good friend, John persisted in his quest to come to the aid of our friend Jim. The ending was not a pretty sight.
Rest in Peace my friend.
John R. Grandstaff
I didn't have much contact with Jim after Fort Wayne but for a dinner in Chicago decades ago. TJ kept me up to date periodically. He was a great guy with a warm personality and an independent outlook on life that always seemed to include helping others. Gotta admire him.