Jim Zeile was a scholar, an athlete, and a gentleman.
His intellectual accomplishments include winning the senior math award in high school, a slew of physics degrees (bachelor's at Cal, master's and doctorate in nuclear physics at Colorado), and a successful engineering career at Boeing.
Jim's athletic prowess was demonstrated early on in neighborhood pick-up games with the Tacketts, and when he became the winning pitcher for the little league championship team. As a sophomore, he won awards as a high jumper and a hurdler. Branching out from this base, Jim became a pole vaulter, a member of the cross country team, and a competitive decathlete. At Pasadena City College, he was a hurdler on the 1978 state championship team.
Jim's love of nature was infectious. After his undergraduate work, he traveled the country and ended up working and skiing at the new ski resort in Deer Valley, Utah. He quickly inspired some of his college friends to join him working there. Jim was an enthusiastic peak bagger in the Sierra and Rocky mountains, earning his Sierra Club emblem in 1982.
In 1990, Jim found his home in Seattle, working for Boeing and becoming involved with the Jaycees, where he met his wife, Louise Hammrich. Jim and Louise complemented each other very well, as they worked to achieve the goals of the Seattle chapter. He went on to become president of the Seattle Jaycees ('94-'95) and was known for his patient, intelligent leadership style, kindness, and subtle humor. He was also an ardent patron of the 5th Avenue Theater.
On June 23, 1997, Jim lost his life at the all-too-early age of 38. Although he had cancer, he never lost his fighting spirit until the end.
Jim was the nicest brother that you could possibly imagine. We love you Jim and we miss your enthusiasm for life!
I grew up with Jim, attended classes with him from kindergarden to HS, played many games in the street with him and the neighborhood kids, I played little league baseball and High jumped and pole vaulted with him at SPHS.Jim was a good friend, always focused on the task at hand.I am sorry to hear he is not with us anymore, the world lost a good one.Eric Merrill
I just read this in disbelief and with great sadness. Jim has been in my thoughts recently as I try to explain the high jump event
to my 12 year old daughter Clementine, who is just beginning track.
Jim showed me how to do the fosbury flop out there at the far end of the field. He and I were the high jump squad, we spent many a quiet afternoon running a slow half circle and trying to jump over our bent practise bar set at varying heights . We took turns, it was always nice. Running, leaping and landing on the pad, Jim a couple minutes after me, ( after I had replaced the fallen bar) always smiling, he was, always laughing, and always comfortable inverted , mid air over a metal bar, that enormously long frame of his articulated gracefully up, around and over... again and again. His feet lightning fast kicked up at the last instant and the bar sat motionless as he crumpled into the pad with that smile. The scars I still have on my back were from landing on that practise bar. We had a good bar too, for home meets. We couldn't use that because it was fiberglass and would break, the metal would break us. Jim kept good care of the gear.
One night we were in a meet against San Marino, he and I and as I remember just one kid from SM were still jumping. it was dark. The bar kept getting higher for me, doesn't sound like much but i cleared a personal best of 5'8" and faced the next level of 5'10", Jim cleared it. Sailed over it. And then walked back to me with that lanky gait,with not much more than that familiar smile and a few words of encouragement, I never cleared that 5'10" bar, but I came really close.Two of the three attempts were met with Jim's same encouragement, and a slight technical note, arch more, kick sooner. The third attempt i caught the bar with my heel after the rest of me got over. I was amazed. Jim was beaming as he knew I had never attempted anything like that height and came really close.
He grinned. I think that makes you third anyway is what he said.
I never forgot that night in San Marino, as the three of us jumped in the dark. my unexpected third place point apparently put us over the top, Jim and I got on the bus, Jim told the coach I had gotten third, the coach was elated with the point. Jim looked back at me and smiled again. Whether Jim won or not is immaterial now... I sit here with tears in my eyes remembering those easy days laying on the pads after dragging them out, The ritual of the lonely high jump squad quietly practising, Jim would lead, I followed. He taught me a lot that year.
Thanks Jim, for some great memories out there at the far end of the field, I see you still rocking back and forth at the beginning of the approach, a few slow steps and then those gangly arms and legs of yours uncorked up and over in pure slow grace.
Jim Zeile was a great friend from the 7th-12th grade and we kept in touch while he was at PCC & UC Berkley. He was exceptionally kind and intelligent. The world needs all the gentle souls it has, it is so sad Jim died so young.
There is little I can add to the comments already made regarding Jim Zeile. He was smart even by the standards of us "smart" folks at Marengo. He was not one to grab the spotlight, but it's obvious from those who knew him in high school (I moved after 8th grade) he was invested in the success of those he knew, particularly in track and field. It's no surprise that his career was going gangbusters. What a tragedy to lose him so young. Condolences to all of his family and friends.
Robert Stephen Zeile (1978)
Jim Zeile was a scholar, an athlete, and a gentleman.
His intellectual accomplishments include winning the senior math award in high school, a slew of physics degrees (bachelor's at Cal, master's and doctorate in nuclear physics at Colorado), and a successful engineering career at Boeing.
Jim's athletic prowess was demonstrated early on in neighborhood pick-up games with the Tacketts, and when he became the winning pitcher for the little league championship team. As a sophomore, he won awards as a high jumper and a hurdler. Branching out from this base, Jim became a pole vaulter, a member of the cross country team, and a competitive decathlete. At Pasadena City College, he was a hurdler on the 1978 state championship team.
Jim's love of nature was infectious. After his undergraduate work, he traveled the country and ended up working and skiing at the new ski resort in Deer Valley, Utah. He quickly inspired some of his college friends to join him working there. Jim was an enthusiastic peak bagger in the Sierra and Rocky mountains, earning his Sierra Club emblem in 1982.
In 1990, Jim found his home in Seattle, working for Boeing and becoming involved with the Jaycees, where he met his wife, Louise Hammrich. Jim and Louise complemented each other very well, as they worked to achieve the goals of the Seattle chapter. He went on to become president of the Seattle Jaycees ('94-'95) and was known for his patient, intelligent leadership style, kindness, and subtle humor. He was also an ardent patron of the 5th Avenue Theater.
On June 23, 1997, Jim lost his life at the all-too-early age of 38. Although he had cancer, he never lost his fighting spirit until the end.
Jim was the nicest brother that you could possibly imagine. We love you Jim and we miss your enthusiasm for life!
Eric Merrill (1977)
I grew up with Jim, attended classes with him from kindergarden to HS, played many games in the street with him and the neighborhood kids, I played little league baseball and High jumped and pole vaulted with him at SPHS.Jim was a good friend, always focused on the task at hand.I am sorry to hear he is not with us anymore, the world lost a good one.Eric Merrill
Richard Lee (1978)
I just read this in disbelief and with great sadness. Jim has been in my thoughts recently as I try to explain the high jump event
to my 12 year old daughter Clementine, who is just beginning track.
Jim showed me how to do the fosbury flop out there at the far end of the field. He and I were the high jump squad, we spent many a quiet afternoon running a slow half circle and trying to jump over our bent practise bar set at varying heights . We took turns, it was always nice. Running, leaping and landing on the pad, Jim a couple minutes after me, ( after I had replaced the fallen bar) always smiling, he was, always laughing, and always comfortable inverted , mid air over a metal bar, that enormously long frame of his articulated gracefully up, around and over... again and again. His feet lightning fast kicked up at the last instant and the bar sat motionless as he crumpled into the pad with that smile. The scars I still have on my back were from landing on that practise bar. We had a good bar too, for home meets. We couldn't use that because it was fiberglass and would break, the metal would break us. Jim kept good care of the gear.
One night we were in a meet against San Marino, he and I and as I remember just one kid from SM were still jumping. it was dark. The bar kept getting higher for me, doesn't sound like much but i cleared a personal best of 5'8" and faced the next level of 5'10", Jim cleared it. Sailed over it. And then walked back to me with that lanky gait,with not much more than that familiar smile and a few words of encouragement, I never cleared that 5'10" bar, but I came really close.Two of the three attempts were met with Jim's same encouragement, and a slight technical note, arch more, kick sooner. The third attempt i caught the bar with my heel after the rest of me got over. I was amazed. Jim was beaming as he knew I had never attempted anything like that height and came really close.
He grinned. I think that makes you third anyway is what he said.
I never forgot that night in San Marino, as the three of us jumped in the dark. my unexpected third place point apparently put us over the top, Jim and I got on the bus, Jim told the coach I had gotten third, the coach was elated with the point. Jim looked back at me and smiled again. Whether Jim won or not is immaterial now... I sit here with tears in my eyes remembering those easy days laying on the pads after dragging them out, The ritual of the lonely high jump squad quietly practising, Jim would lead, I followed. He taught me a lot that year.
Thanks Jim, for some great memories out there at the far end of the field, I see you still rocking back and forth at the beginning of the approach, a few slow steps and then those gangly arms and legs of yours uncorked up and over in pure slow grace.
Thanks
Rich
all honor to your name.
Irwin Lane Wong (1977)
Jim Zeile was a great friend from the 7th-12th grade and we kept in touch while he was at PCC & UC Berkley. He was exceptionally kind and intelligent. The world needs all the gentle souls it has, it is so sad Jim died so young.
Charles Timothy 'Tim' James (1977)
There is little I can add to the comments already made regarding Jim Zeile. He was smart even by the standards of us "smart" folks at Marengo. He was not one to grab the spotlight, but it's obvious from those who knew him in high school (I moved after 8th grade) he was invested in the success of those he knew, particularly in track and field. It's no surprise that his career was going gangbusters. What a tragedy to lose him so young. Condolences to all of his family and friends.