A Life Fully Lived

Jim graduated from Alexander Ramsey High School in Roseville, MN; received his undergraduate degree in Mathematics from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities; his Master's degree in Physics from the University of Minnesota-Duluth, and his Ph.D. in Theoretical Physics from the University of Wyoming in Laramie.

After stints teaching and doing research at the Universities of Wyoming and North Dakota State, the majority of Jim's career was spent as a Theoretical Physicist at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in Boulder, CO, where he loved his work and was able to do groundbreaking work on a number of fronts. He was in the process of writing a book about his work.

Jim and his wife, Karen, were married in June, 1979. They were blessed with two wonderful children, a son, Duff, born in 1986, and a daughter, Aquene, born in 1991.

Besides his work and family, Jim had a lifelong love affair with the outdoors, as manifested in his activities of canoeing (including competitive whitewater canoeing), camping, fishing, biking, snowshoeing, and climbing.

Jim died in a tragic and improbable accident on December 31, 2011, when a high gust of wind blew a branch just 3-feet long and 3 inches in diameter through the windshield of his car, as he and his wife, Karen, were returning home to Longmont from Boulder. The branch slammed into his chest and he maintained consciousness long enough to steer the car to the shoulder and stop, saving his wife and other motorists from a possible collision.

To say that Jim is sorely missed by his family, colleagues, and many friends is an understatement.

In the last several years, Jim had taken to signing off his emails to his siblings with "Jimmy B." Long live the memory of Jimmy B!

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Remembering Jim on His Birthday


Jim would have been 62 today. His siblings are gathering for dinner, to remember Jim and share a toast in his honor. His sister, Rose, emailed this brief memory of his 9th birthday.

Jim’s 9th Birthday (February 8, 1959)

This morning the memory of Jim's 9th birthday came to mind.  It was during the first year that we lived at 1975 Carl St., and Mom had a few boys over for a birthday party for Jim.  I remember that Mark Allard gave Jim a kite.

The weather was similar to today - kind of cold and windy, with almost no snow.  Right after the party, Jim took the kite out to fly in our yard and immediately the kite got caught in a tree by the golf course fence.  He was so eager to fly it - I can picture that happy look of anticipation in Jim's eyes, but I don't think it bothered him too much that it got caught in the tree.

We saw that kite stuck up in the tree for quite a few months afterwards. I shared that memory with Jim on his birthday last year.  Do any of you remember that?  That memory always stuck with me, as I must have been there throughout his party, observing everything, and went outside with Jim to fly the kite.

-- Rose, 2/8/2012
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Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Article from UMD Physics Newsletter, Spring, 2003

In 2003, the Physics Department at the University of Minnesota-Duluth asked Jim to describe his journey thus far for their “Catching Up With Grads” column. Here is what Jim wrote.

James Baker-Jarvis, MS '80
I graduated from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities in 1975 with a BS in Mathematics. Then with Karen, my future wife, I climbed mountains and bicycled all over North and South America for a few years. We had many “near-death” climbing experiences.

The main goal in my life has been to pursue my passions. One way to do this was to have two retirements, one when young and one when older.
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Text of Memorial Service


MEMORIAL SERVICE
James “Jim” R. Baker-Jarvis
(1950-2011)

Ahlberg Funeral Chapel
326 Terry St.
Longmont, CO 80501
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
PRE-SERVICE MUSIC
Performed by: Jeff & Julie Oxenford (violin/guitar)
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
WELCOME/GREETING
Rev. Lydia Ferrante-Roseberry

We are gathered here this afternoon to honor the life of James Baker-Jarvis, a life that ended tragically too early.
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Friday, February 3, 2012

Memories from Jim's friend, Poppy Benson

Riding the Rails

I always wanted to ride the rails, so I was thrilled when I met Jim through Rovers in about 1970 and learned he was planning to lead a freight-hopping trip to the Wind River Mountains in Wyoming. First we would make a slight detour to Seattle to gear up at REI. In those days, there was only one REI and traveling a thousand miles to the Mecca of gear seemed to Jim a really reasonable thing to do. I was along for the adventure so I didn't question this much.

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Memories from Jim's friend, Terry Grier

Bicycling With Jim

It was the spring of 1970 when Jim Baker suggested he and I take a long bicycle trip. I had done a lot of biking but had never thought about a cross-country ride and probably would not have done one without his prompting. It turned out to be a real adventure that few besides Jim and I ever knew about. It has been many years since I saw Jim and only talked to him once on the phone in recent years but have a good feeling and fond memories just thinking about him and our trip.

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