For those interested (and there will be at least a couple), I pass this along. John
----- Original Message ----- From: michael mceachern Sent: Tuesday, August 03, 2010 7:51 AM Subject: FW: Jim's Final Journey To NRMG Members: Jim Chester, Montana's premier caver, died on Saturday, July 31. I am passing along this email for our grotto president (Mike is in the Bob Marshall on a caving trip). Some of you might want to attend the memorial service on Monday. Nancy Boice Sec/ NRMG -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: Fw: Jim's Final Journey List-Post: [email protected] Date: Tue, 3 Aug 2010 05:21:23 -0500 From: [email protected] To: [email protected] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Susan Conrad <[email protected]> Sent: Mon Aug 02 20:12:59 2010 Subject: Jim's Final Journey "There is a spiritual presence which can aptly cushion our every fall, bringing comfort and subtle meaning to our lives. However, we'll not feel this gentle comfort unless we attune ourselves to the others in our company. It's within another's soul that we sense the beacon of light which illuminates the way we're traveling." � author unknown Jim Chester was a beacon of light for me, undoubtedly. He guided me, inspired me, and kept many of you informed during my personal journey up the Inside Passage of British Columbia and Southeast Alaska earlier this summer. An email seems so stark, so impersonal, even soul-less for something of this nature but I know of no other way to inform all the friends and loved ones whose lives he touched immeasurably. After a 4 week struggle in the aftermath of quadruple bypass surgery complicated by renal failure, Jim Chester passed away at his Eureka, Montana home on July 30th. He experienced 66 years of living life to the absolute fullest. His life philosophy was to follow his curiosity and see where it led him. It led him to many special places; to the oceans deep, to the mountains high, to the depths of caverns and the love of life and discovery and exploration. It also led him to many special people - all of you. Many of you never had the opportunity to meet this brilliant, compassionate, incredibly rare man but did come to know him through his eloquent words as he kept you posted on my journey up the Inside Passage. He was with me every stroke of the way, and brought you all along for the ride. And what a thrill it was - Jim's final adventure with me, with all of us. In the end, he confidently and proudly confronted his health issues, well aware that his own personal "medical Cape Caution" as he referred to it, loomed on the horizon with much at stake. I was the last one to see and speak with Jim, the day before he died. He talked about the day he would be able to cave, hike, ski and kayak again... We reminiscenced and I assured him he would one day be doing those physical activities which he loved so much again - soon. I was, unfortunately, wrong. The adventure is over but the adventurer will never be forgotten. Jim had an impressive list of accomplishments in his life. Here is a brief synopsis: Jim�s passion was cave exploration, specifically of the alpine wilderness cave systems of Montana. He was a Fellow of The Explorers Club and The National Speleological Society. The NSS has recognized Jim's achievements with their highest award for exploration. He served on the Board of Directors of The Alpine Karst Foundation and was a member of The U.S. Cave Exploration Committee of the NSS. He was past editor of Alpine Karst, and author (ghost) of the latest edition of the Boy Scouts of America Orienteering Merit Badge Booklet. He was the chapters editor for The Explorers Log. He kayaked nearly 2000 ocean miles; dived thermal features in Yellowstone National Park; rappelled into a 240 foot well in a European medieval castle and discovered a new species of amphipod in a Glacier National Park Cave. Jim has carried The Explorers Club Flag twice, once in 2007 and once in 2009. Jim was the recipient of The 2005 Vancouver Award of The Pacific Northwest Chapter and was the 2010 Explorers Club Citation of Merit Awardee for outstanding service to the Explorers Club as the Chapters Editor of The Explorers Log and for his extraordinary contributions to the field of cave exploration. Jim�s wishes were to be cremated. A reception honoring his life will be held at the Rexford Bench day use area on Lake Koocanusa, in Rexford, Montana on Monday, August 9 at 3 p.m. All are invited to attend. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Explorers Club Youth Expedition Scholarship Fund in care of Maura Glikas, The Explorers Club, 46 E. 70th St., New York, NY 10021. With Deep Regrets and Best Regards, Susan 406.249.8086 P.S. The location for the reception may change and if so I will be sure to let everyone know.
