Jim Caldwell (2000-2001)
Jim & Anne Caldwell
James Samuel Caldwell was born, the second of twins, in Honolulu on June 23, 1928. He spoke of having vivid memories of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7,1941. He also remembered Waikiki Beach when there were only three hotels - the Royal Hawaiian, Moana and Halekulani.
Jim moved on to college at Stanford, where he received a degree in accounting and met Anne Everett. Anne attended the University of Redlands and the University of California at Berkeley, where she earned her degree in Decorative Arts. Jim and Anne were married on January 17, 1959, and they celebrated 50 years of marriage before he passed on July 1, 2009. Jim and Anne have five children (Marci, Julie, Ken, Bill and Bruce), five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Jim moved on to college at Stanford, where he received a degree in accounting and met Anne Everett. Anne attended the University of Redlands and the University of California at Berkeley, where she earned her degree in Decorative Arts. Jim and Anne were married on January 17, 1959, and they celebrated 50 years of marriage before he passed on July 1, 2009. Jim and Anne have five children (Marci, Julie, Ken, Bill and Bruce), five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Jim's business career included finance and accounting, and he moved to Bellingham to become the VP/Controller of a subsidiary of Del Monte. Eventually Jim was called back to company headquarters in San Francisco, but decided to stay in the town that he and Anne had made their home. Jim finished his career at Henefin Associates. He will always be remembered for the hard work he put into every job he ever held.
Jim carried this work ethic into the community as he served on many boards with full and active participation. He was elected to the City Council and it is believed he actually read the cumbersome reports provided to those politicians in order to fully discuss each issue with complete knowledge.
Jim lived up to the Rotarian standard of "never say no". He was President of the Bellingham Club in 1980. He received the Community Service Award twice - in 1990 and 1997. In the year 2000, Jim served as District 5050 Governor. He was also a 5 time Paul Harris Fellow Award winner. Jim believed wholeheartedly in the Four Way Test, and lived it by living a life that was full and rich. We will all miss him and his gentle way.
Jim loved sports as a participant, a coach, and as a fan. He had an incredible memory of sports events, and stats. In 1950, when the San Francisco Giants arrived on the west coast, Willie Mays was one of the players and he become one of Jim's favorite sports heroes. Oddly enough several years later, in a restaurant where he and Anne were dining with Larry Johansen and his wife, Larry spotted Willie Mays at a nearby table. Jim calmly stood up and went over to the table, stating "you're Willie Mays". He then went on to tell the stunned baseball great that he had attended a particular game in which Willie's play had won the game. Jim also knew Willie's dinner companion, recognizing him as the commentator for the Giants. Having finished his objective, Jim turned around and went back to his table. He had said his piece.
