A Great Loss
March 1st, 2006 by Steve · 1 Comment ·
Early this morning my Uncle Jim McClelland lost his too-short battle with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. James B. McClelland was my favorite uncle, perhaps my favorite relative, and it pains us all greatly to lose him. I will remember always his amiable manner, his relaxed quiet demeanor and his love for life.
Selfishly, I am thankful that we had a chance to have lunch with Jim and Lesley in San Diego in December as we departed on our cruise. More so, I can’t express enough how glad I am that we had the McClelland family reunion in Serene Lakes this last summer. Many of the older family members talked to me about how it was a good time to have it when we did since some of them were getting up in years may not make it back to a future reunion. Younger family members would replace the family matrons and patrons in time. In my mind, Jim was expected to fill that role in the distant future. Jim died at 58, leaving that role for someone else to fill.
Less selfishly, the only thing that gives me more pain than losing my Uncle Jim is thinking of those that survive him: His widow Lesley must cope without him. His grown children Joy and Matt will come to grips with the sudden loss of their father. Jim’s 3 grand-children–one born to Matt and Katie just yesterday– will have only faint memories of their grandfather, as I do of mine, James P. McClelland, my uncle’s namesake. My father and his sister Norma have lost their youngest sibling–younger than my father by 15 years– is no less painful. Together we all grieve if only from a distance.
We will spend the next few days pouring over family photos and videos helping us to remember Jim and maybe memorialize him as we see fit, but for some time to come the loss of my Uncle Jim will leave a great void in our lives.
Thanks to everyone for your phone calls and heart-felt sentiment.
Filed Under: Family
1 Comment so far ↓
1 Tom McClelland on Mar 1, 2006 at 12:30 am
James Barclay McClelland left behind a fine group of sad people when he died suddenly on Monday, February 27, 2006. Leukemia cause his demise in less than two weeks since he was hospitalized. At best, we can be relieved he did not have a lengthy battle against the invasive disease.
Born 15 years after I was, Jim was the adored baby through his teen years. He began to excel on the gridiron and the track. He was the “Iron Man” on his Mark Keppel High School track team– twice.
When he stayed with my family in Santa Maria he attended Hancock College, but was not eligible for track because of residency requirements. He taught two other guys how to do the hurdles—and they placed second and fourth in the intermediate hurdles at the state meet the next year. Jim was off to greener pastures and did not share the glory as Hancock won the state title.
He was always a runner, even competed in some marathons with wife Lesley. They turned to hitting golf balls in recent years. More than an athlete, Jim was a good father and a fun person to be around. He was more than successful in his career.
Yes, he had a passion for fitness, always running and jumping. His athleticism belied his inner health in his last days.
I was fortunate to have had such a wonderful kid brother. Sister Norma feels the same way. At only 58 years of age, he left us much too soon.
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