James D. Houston

Years and years ago I took guitar lessons from Mr. Houston in his wonderful home in Santa Cruz. Years later, while working at a non-profit foundation in the north state, I ran into him when he was visiting the foundation. After introducing myself he smiled that wonderful smile and asked me if I was still practicing. I immediately got the same butterflies in my stomach every 12 year old gets when queried by their instructor!He was a wonderful, wonderful writer, teacher and human being. I'll...

F.Davis and I MaryMargaret Mills send our heart felt wishes to you and the family over your loss of James. We lived in Santa Cruz for many years and I have read most of your all's books.

To Jeanne and family,
Ed and I were saddened to hear of Jim's death. What wonderful memories our family has of the beach, from the time our children were babies, Josh, Gabby and Julie and Stephen playing together, Jim and his ritual swim from Black Point to the harbor and back, your meditation classes on the beach, Jeanne; trading piano lessons for Cori while Jim taught me guitar. All wonderful memories of our time in the neighborhood with summer fun and all the neighbors there...

It was my great pleasure to be on the program of the Peninsula Volunteers as an author with Jim three years ago. It was my first real chance to observe the kindness, gentility, slightly impish wit and depth of character under whose spell so many others had already fallen. He told his stories, answered questions, with the ease of the veteran, but so naturally deflected the limelight, and when I returned to our table after doing my amateur's stint, had nothing but kind things to say, and was...

to the family of James Houston. I read this morning in the Metro of the death of my most favorite author; I first came across his writings in THE LAST PARADISE which I consumed rapidly also telling a multitude of friends about it; thus followed a series of serendipitious events in which I was able to retro- find CONTINENTAL DRIFT assumed pre-cursor to the PARADISE BOOK then Snow Mtn Passage and on and on I did meet both he and Jean at the Capitola Book cafe a few yrs ago and again at...

FTI:
http://www.montereyherald.com/search/ci_12216963

My neighbor, mentor, advisor, literary ideal, father/grandfather figure - a man I've looked up to for the 19 years I've known him. And a master craftsman as a writer with the sensibilities to transport his reader and to transcend the medium from time to time.
I was fairly devastated to learn of his death yesterday, when Mary Kay opened the Metro Santa Cruz. And I feel a substantial regret for not having connected with him more than our bumps on the road, passing one another on his recent...

To the Houston family, my deepest sympathies. Jim was my professor during his Lurie Distinguished Writer-in-Residence time at SJSU. His style was masterful, insights flawless, humor disarming, and I will never forget his welcoming air. I am a better writer and a better person having had the chance to spend time as his student, and I will value this experience my entire life.

James Houston was a wonderful teacher and an amazing person. I still feel blessed to have been a part of his Lurie class-- he made his students feel welcomed and appreciated; he discussed instead of lecturing, and the topics were always interesting.

Thank you, Professor Houston, for being in my life-- even if it was only for a semester.