WARNER -- Henry Milnor "Jim" Mitchell, 58, died June 4, 2008, of a heart attack in his home, MainStreet Bookends of Warner.
Born March 17, 1950, in Charlottesville, Va., he was the first child of Arthur Hayne Mitchell Jr. and Edith Looker Mitchell.
With his sister and brother-in-law, he in 1998 created and became co-owner of the community bookstore MainStreet BookEnds of Warner. In his 10 years operating the store, it won numerous awards, including Yankee Magazine's "Must-See Bookstore of New England," and NH Magazine's "Best Community Bookstore."
He was a former director of the annual Warner Fall Foliage Festival, served on numerous town committees, and was named Warner's "Citizen of the Year" in 2004.
He was a decorated Vietnam veteran, being named "Airman of the Year" in 1970. He began his long radio career as a news anchor with WLNH in Laconia and moved to WSB Radio in Atlanta, Ga., where he stayed until 1981. He then came back to New England to anchor the morning news at WHDH Radio in Boston, the afternoon news at WEEI-AM, and then in 1998 became the weekend news anchor for WBZ NewsRadio 1030. He also served as a union negotiator for the news crew.
IN HIS LIFE: He leaves behind his adoring sister, Katharine Mitchell Nevins, and her husband, Neil, of Warner.
Their children, Lane, Matthias, Colin and Klare, were his greatest loves. He is also survived by a brother, Arthur Mitchell of Virginia and his wife, Monica, and their children, Katharine, Andrew and Thomas; his aunt, Karen Hyde, also of Virginia, and many cousins. He leaves behind a huge and grateful community of friends in Warner, at WBZ, and within the world of radio news.
His Warner bookstore became the focal point and gathering place for the town. Here he coordinated over 300 events a year, including concerts, lectures, classes, story hours, and the meeting of primary presidential candidates.
He received numerous broadcast awards including several awards from the Associated Press for "Best Newscast."
He was most proud of his award for "Best Spot News" coverage of the World Airways crash at Logan International Airport in Boston in 1982, and was known in the Boston area for bringing human interest stories from all around the world. He had traveled extensively in Europe, Asia, South America and the South Pacific.
He will forever be remembered for his clear voice, his humble nature, for his million small gestures of kindness, his ability to make everyone laugh and feel at ease, and his "free balloon hour" in the bookstore.
Jim's passion and greatest pride was the little town of Warner. He worked to encourage and promote all the artists, writers, musicians and children that live there.
To honor Jim's spirit and life work, his plans and dream for a community park between the bookstore and the Pillsbury Free Library of Warner will come true.
Any donations should be directed, in his name, toward MainStreet Warner Inc.
SERVICES: Burial will be private, but a celebration of his life will be held at the Warner Town Hall Tuesday, June 17, at 2 p.m., to be followed by a reception at his home, The Gallery at MainStreet Bookends. Donations in his name may be made to MainStreet Warner Inc., P.O. Box 248, Warner, 03278.
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