Date: Tue, 2 Mar 2004 11:45:34 -0800 From: Jeff McLean Subject: Jim Ramey Let me reiterate how sorry I am to hear about Jim's death. My profound condolences: I worked with Jim there in the lab during 1982-1984, and then briefly during the late summer of 1988. I can hear him now, growling "Ah, yes, ground zero of the seismic kingdom." He was smart, funny, kind and generous: though we haven't been in touch in some time, he remains vividly in our memories. When you speak with Shelley, Jason or Emma, please give them our sympathy, and do please let us know when memorial services will be held. Thanks, Jeff McLean & Dian Campbell 3222 NW 65th Street Seattle, WA 98117 206-783-0750 -------------- Date: Wed, 3 Mar 2004 11:21:48 -0800 From: "Jack Libby at MECCO, Inc." Subject: Jim Ramey Thanks for the phone message. I had already heard the news from Laurens Engel the day before. Tony Qamar had phoned him with the news. Please do keep me posted regarding the memorial service. I would likely attend. Best regards, Jack -------------- Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2004 17:15:16 -0700 From: Alex Bittenbinder Subject: Re: Jim's memorial get-together What to say, besides the usual inane words. I to have a clear image of him. I treasure it. It's one of a warm, sincere, good-hearted guy. A plus for humanity. I hope he died easily. I wish I could be at the get-together. Alex --------------- I am appreciative that you included me on your notice list and am truly saddened by Jim's departure from us. I am sure he will leave a large hole in his place in both his family and with those he worked with. Sincerely, Scott Juds 206-365-9690 piTech@earthlink.net ---------------- thank you for your message. Stefano told us about Jim last week. We are very sorry, he was a nice person. I think often of you and the many nice people in Seattlei like Jim. It was one of the best period of my life. Carla. Università di Catania - C.E.A. Servizio di Posta Elettronica http://www.cea.unict.it -------------- On Sun, 14 Mar 2004, John Taber wrote: Thanks for the note. Bill Steele called me last week so I had heard the sad news. It's hard to believe that someone as full of life as Jim is gone. I've sent a card to Shellie with a couple of pictures of Jim. I've attached low-res versions below and if you would like to add any of them to your photo collage, let me know and I can send the high-res versions. The photos are: UW Geophysics gang in 1983 just before Christina and I left for Lamont. Three shots of Jim in the Shumagin Islands, Alaska in 1989 when he came and helped me with our annual summer maintenance. The first is waiting for the helicopter in our orange neoprene flight suits. The other two are what I think of as classic Jim images: huddled over field electronics and taking a break with a cup of coffee from his ever-present thermos. Pavlof Volcano is in the background. Jim had a real influence on me when I was a graduate student. He always had a twinkle in his eye and you could always count on Jim to give you his honest opinion. I worked with Jim in the snow and the rain (and even a little sunshine now and then) around Mt. St. Helens in 1980 where Jim did his best to try to teach me the basics of installing and servicing seismic stations. Later on one of several field trips to the Olympic Peninsula, Jim told me my favorite story: After finishing a day of installing a new site, we headed into Forks for dinner. I suggested a tavern that looked reasonable from the outside but Jim didn't like my choice. It seems that Jim had attempted to have a beer there in the 60's and the local loggers didn't think much of his long hair and beard and none to politely escorted Jim out of town. Our trip into town was the first time Jim had been back since then. I'm sorry that I won't be able to join in the celebration of Jim's life but I'll be thinking of him on Saturday. John ------------------- I'm unable to attend Jim's memorial--this weekend is Eva's mom's 87th birthday party, with about 40 people coming. Jim knew Ople pretty well, having been fed and bedded at the Foley household. Ople will say a prayer for Jim and his family during the party. I will send a special rememberance to Shelley in a few weeks. And for Jim, I will go back to Red Mountain this summer and recall that day in 1980 when we sat there for two to three hours waiting for a helicopter. (Everything had actually gone as planned!!) As befits the Indian Heavan area, the pressures of 1980 Mount St. Helens drifted away from both of us, even though the shortened cone looms large in the distance from this vista. Quietly, our minds both moved to a contemplative state, where the glories of the natural world, its eternal working with its ebb and floww, and our role in helping to understand it overtook us. Perhaps 30 minutes or 45 minutes or 60 minutes passed when Jim turned to me and said "We're lucky. We're part of this." I looked back at him and nodded agreement. A slight wind came up, keeping the mosquitoes at bay and the sun continued to soften to the west. We slowly shifted our view--to the east Mount Adams, to the north Rainier and Goat Rocks, to the south Mount Hood and Jefferson and the indistinct white tops even further south. We didn't say much, not much was needed. As we left Red Mountain in the confused fury of the helicopter, we both turned and watched (as well one can in the damn things) Red Mountain receded in the distance. When we landed, I looked to the east, Red Mountain long fallen over the landscape, and told Jim "we all only have a few chances to stand on the top, and fewer with one of your close colleagues and friends." Jim broke into a broad grin and replied " and even fewer when you're working". It took us driving to somewhere between Olympia and Tacoma before we broke into the usual mindless banter at the end of a field trip. When we got back to the UW, there were notes scrawled on his desk, tersely outlining station problems and the like, Jim made one of his typical comments, something to the effect "I guess Red Mountain is gone" (probably there was a four letter word somewhere in there). I shook my head and looked straight at him, and said "Jim, Red Mountain will always be there, even if it eroded tomorrow." He nodded, smiled in agreement, and we went home our separate ways. Please give my sympathy to Jim's family, Craig Pacific Northwest Coordinator National Earthquake Program U.S. Geological Survey 206-553-0627 206-553-8350 fax e-mail: craig@ess.washington.edu ------------ From: "Hartshorn, Donald C" Subject: RE: Jim's informal memorial get-together I was truly sorry to hear about Jim. Although I didn't see him very often we logged hours of maintenance time via telephone during the 20 plus years of our association. I will be out of country and not able to attend. Please share my condolences with Jim's family. ----------- Date: Fri, 19 Mar 2004 18:38:19 -0500 From: Robert Crosson MA and I are away in Boston, so can't make the gathering for Jim tomorrow. If you get this in time, please express our disappointment in not being able to be with you all. If it is appropriate, please read (or you may better paraphrase) my comments below. Many thanks. ------------------------------------------------------- Jim was a friend and colleague -- we know that there will be great stories to retell and share. I used to enjoy conversations with Jim on any number of subjects -- often when I would go to ask Jim a some technical question. He had such an honest no-holds-barred take on life -- it was often entertaining and almost always right on the mark. I remember the sideways glance with the twinkle in his eye that underscored his dry humor and his ability to see the more absurd sides of life. Jim always had tidbits on his door for our entertainment and enlightenment. One of my favorites went something like: "A working person who votes for George Bush is like a chicken voting for Colonel Sanders" This probably dates from 1992 (or maybe even 1988). Jim left it up for along time -- perhaps it was a favorite of his. But I am sure that in his worst nightmares, he never imagined that it would still be right-on in 2004. We are there is spirit, if not in person. We miss Jim and we know there is great sorrow, but as Jim would want -- a few laughs as well. Bob and Mary Alice Crosson