To Debra and Catherine:
Jim was a long-ago friend as we struggled through many journalism classes together at USC, then milled around The State newsroom for the year or so I was there.
He was, and always has been, one of my journalism heroes. He never let anything take him off the story, waver from the truth, or compromise his principles.
He was a good, kind friend to me and many others in our circles of cub reporters. Jim became the best of us, the toughest of us, and the one who never sold out.
My heart is with you both. I hope there is comfort in knowing that he lived a wonderful life, he made a difference, and he is now free of pain and medical aggravation. Jim never could stand to be aggravated.
I wish peace, and and the warmth of irreplaceable memories, for you both.