James Gordon "Jimmy" Enck

1962 - 2025

James Gordon Enck was born on October 30, 1962 in Fort Worth, Texas. He passed from this earth in Bath, England on May 14, 2025.

Jimmy was the son of Graves and Janice Enck of Memphis, Tennessee. Early days of education were spent in Arlington, Texas and New Haven, Connecticut. A move to Memphis in 1974 placed him in Memphis City Schools for grades 6-12. Jimmy graduated from Central High School's Class of 1981 and enrolled at then Memphis State University, completing his degree with honors in Communications and Russian in 1984. Jimmy was always interested in various aspects of international studies. Perhaps it might have been related to the four years the family lived in Yale apartments, where he was surrounded by international friends and playmates. There, he was introduced to languages and cultures that intrigued him and had an effect on the choices he later made.

After spending one summer as an on-campus host to visiting Japanese students, Jimmy decided to add Japanese language classes to his program of study. After graduating, he applied to a Japanese language institute in Osaka, Japan, where he attended classes and lived with a Japanese family. In 1985, Jimmy was accepted to participate in the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program (JET), placing him in the Yamanashi Prefecture to live and to teach English to students in several middle schools. He worked in the JET program for 2 years, acquiring many friends from around the world. After returning to Memphis, he was selected to participate in a Memphis City School language program focused on teaching conversational Japanese to elementary school students in several schools in the district. Jimmy was involved in writing the curriculum, planning lessons. and teaching students in those participating schools.

While living in London, England, Jimmy applied his language skills, translating written documents/reports in a Japanese securities company. He was encouraged to work toward becoming an analyst, which led to a ten-year successful career as a telecoms analyst in several London Stock Exchange companies. Jimmy later became the Head of Corporate Development and Investor Relations at City Fibre Infrastructure Holdings PLC and as the CEO at Seim & Partner Inc.

Jimmy's work often provided opportunities for travel, giving him a chance to continue to explore and to take incredible pictures of his travels. He was an early "blogger" discussing travel, work, and life experiences. And wherever he was living, Jimmy was involved in music. Through high school, college and his adult life, he might be found playing guitar or drums with a performing group or just for fun. Listening to music was another favorite pastime, and he developed a wide range of information about international music history, style, performers and performances.

Jimmy loved being Dad to Eva and Iris. He would likely be found entertaining them on Saturday or Sunday afternoons in neighborhood parks near East Dulwich, camping out with them or visiting a seashore during the summer, or making a Saturday trip to the local "sweetie shop." They were the happiness and joy of his world.

Jimmy is survived by his daughters, Eva Enck and Iris Enck of London, England; mother, Janice Enck of Germantown; brother Mike Enck (Robin) of Germantown; nephews Will Enck of Nashville and Walker Enck of Germantown. He will be greatly missed by many cousins who loved him and by many friends from Memphis and England who knew him and loved him.
Rest In Peace, Jimmy Enck… you are loved.

A reception celebrating the life of Jimmy Enck will be held on Friday, June 20, at 6:00-8:00 p.m. Memphis Funeral Home Poplar.

In lieu of flowers, the Enck family has requested that friends and family consider contributions to the following, all of which were important to Jimmy:

SMART Recovery Memphis, in memory of Jimmy Enck (midsouthsoberliving.org or Midsouth Sober Living, 1950 Madison Ave., Memphis, TN 38104)

WKNO FM Radio, Memphis (wknofm.org.)

Honoring the Memory of James (Jimmy) Enck, Graves Enck Scholarship in Sociology, University of Memphis Foundation