James P. "Jim" Minard

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James Minard Obituary

James "Jim" P. Minard

James "Jim" P. Minard was born on March 22, 1921 in Morristown, NJ, the youngest son of Robert and Eleanor Minard. Jim was raised on a dairy farm in Chester, NJ. Upon graduation from high school, he went to work for the Picatinny Arsenal in Dover, NJ. In April of 1942, he and his lifelong friend enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served their whole Navy careers together.
While stationed at Bremerton, Jim met the love of his life, Velma Cross. They were married in May, 1944 in San Diego, CA. In October 1945, Jim left the Navy and went to work for Standard Oil in Seattle as a station manager. In January, 1946, daughter Sonja was born and in March, 1947, daughter Marelea was born.
Following his great desire to further his education, Jim packed up his family and headed home to New Jersey to start his education. From February, 1948 until June, 1951, he was a full time student at Upsala University while also working to support his family. He earned a bachelors degree in Geology from Upsala U. While a student, he was employed by the U.S. Geological Survey for two summers doing field work in Alaska. In 1951, Jim took a job with the U.S. Navy Hydrographic Office in D.C. and also entered into the Navy reserve as a LTJG.
In the fall of 1951, he decided to return to New Jersey where he entered Rutgers University and later received his MS in Geology. While a student at Rutgers in 1952, Jamie was born and son Brent was born in 1958. Jim worked for the USGS, retiring after 28 years of service. He spent many years in the Northwest extensively mapping Snohomish and King Counties and his maps are still used today. Jim is the author of 35 published geological articles.
Jim passed away peacefully on June 16, 2011 with his family at his side; he was 90 years old.
Jim was preceded in death by his loving wife, Velma; daughter, Marelea Cameron; and his three brothers, Bob, Bud and Charlie.
He is survived by his sister, Jean (Vance) Umberger; daughter, Sonja (Rich) Reinheimer; sons, Jamie (Beth) Minard and Brent Minard (Karen); and son-in-law, David Cameron; and seven grandchildren, Will (Dana) Harper, Sean Reinheimer, Jennifer Reinheimer, Beau Minard, Jessica (Shawn) Conway, Ryan Minard and Kelli Minard; and six great-grandchildren, Stone Harper, Rylee Reinheimer, Allen Harvill, Kolby Evans, Aimee Harvill and Brenda Stumph.
Dad, you will be greatly missed as you were such a compassionate and caring father. You were a huge presence in all of our lives and always generous. You were an intelligent man and growing up, we four kids learned a lot. Our road trips were always interesting, as you pointed out every outcrop and rock formation along the way. The memories are unforgettable and we are going to miss you terribly. You had a good 90 years and should have been a pioneer. You will always be
in our hearts and
we love you.

Services will be held on July 7, 2011 at 1:00 p.m. at Weller Funeral Home, 327 N. MacLeod Avenue, Arlington, WA with a reception immediately following. There will be no graveside services.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Herald (Everett) from Jul. 3 to Jul. 6, 2011.

Memories and Condolences
for James Minard

9 Entries

Frank Manheim

June 27, 2020

Colleague at USGS, remember Jim as a highly competent earth scientist and a good fellow in the old time sense. That was when collegiality was more highly regarded than now- a time when electrons tend to replace human values. Fine man!
Frank Manheim

Marjorie Heidrich

July 26, 2011

I read Mr. Minard's obituary with great interest, wondering if he may have been acquainted with my late aunt and namesake, the USGS geologist Marjorie Hooker. She would have been a bit older, having been born in 1908. Her homebase was Silver Spring, MD, and she retired shortly before her death in 1975. Aunt Marj seemed to know everyone in her profession, and was treasurer of the USGS for some 14 years. It would not surprise me to hear that they had been rockhound buddies! My sincere condolences...

Bonnie Witek

July 18, 2011

I only met Jim once, when we were mapping the geology of the Cedar Hills Landfill area. I am 30 years younger than him and was amazed at the energy he exhibited in pointing out all the salient geologic features. Then there were his famous chocolate chip cookies with his "special ingredient". He was a joy to be around and his enthusiam and wonderful sense of humor is something I will always remember as well as the love he expressed when he spoke about his wonderful family and wife. My condolences to his family.

Frank T Manheim

July 13, 2011

I met Jim in conjunction with the spectacular AMCOR Atlantic Margin shelf drilling program in 1975. Organized by J.C. Hathaway at the Atlantic Marine Geology Center (Woods Hole MA), this was a remarkable achievement both in terms of scientific yield (more later) and in uniquely bringing together USGS scientists from various units including both Geological division and Water resources division. This gave me the privilege of meeting Jim.

Jim was an example of "rock solid" scientist, open and cooperative colleague, and fine person that gave USGS special respect among federal aqencies, and engendered trust in the general public.

I feel awkward in adding professional details beyond those specifically associated with Jim, the AMCOR project is the kind of achievement that I'm sure Jim was proud to be associated with.

It was not just a competently and professionally organized undertaking. AMCOR was a breathtakingly bold leap forward that few would associate with today's governmental organizations. It was only possible because leadership could mobilize and count on skills like Jims along with cooperation of his management staff.

Hathaway negotiated lease of a full-capacity ocean drilling vessel (Glomar Conception) capable of conducting petroleum exploration drilling to 25,000' depth of combined water column and sediments for only $3 million! It capitalized on a temporary lull in demand and willingness of the owners to keep their vessel active for minimum payment.

The project involved drilling approximately 25 holes up to 1000' below sea floor on the Atlantic shelf from Florida to the Gulf of Maine. It incorporated continuous coring and comprehensive analysis of all types of earth science information, including lithology, biostratigraphy, interstitial water analysis, inorganic and organic geochemistry, mineralogy, physical properties, and electrical logging. These were the same properties encompassed in the NSF-
sponsored Deep-Sea Drilling Project for a fraction of the cost. It would become the only such scientific shelf drilling project in the world. The results were written up in a major
Science Magazine report,independent publications, and a comprehensive database housed in Woods Hole.

Along with other cooperating geologists and hydrologists, Jim served on board to describe and process cores, including interstitial water extraction and preliminary measurements.

My role was to coordinate (with Fran Kohout, WRD) onboard interstitial water collection systems and post cruise detailed chemical analysis of tiny volumes of interstitial water squeezed out of the sediments and preserved in heat-sealed polyethylene tubes.

Jim processed offshore New Jersey cores that revealed extraordinary distributions of submarine sediments with low salinities. They were part of stunning results that large parts of the Atlantic shelf were underlain by fresh and brackish waters! Although controversies about the origin of these conditions remain, I, Fran Kohout, and perhaps Jim found the idea compelling that the fresh and brackish waters reflected exposure of the sea floor above sea levels during the Wisconsin Glacial Maximum. At this time ice stored on land lowered sea levels up to 400' below current sea level. So the fresh and brackish waters were essentially "fossil" remnants of rain and river water that permeated the sediments before they were again covered by the sea.

The data also affected modeling of coastal groundwater in the New Jersey areas that Jim studied as part of his duties.

I think of Jim in the context of this model cooperation of scientists and administrators. It achieved scientific results serving both basic science and practical goals in ways that are rare today. This memory of him will remain with me as long as I live.

Frank T. Manheim (formerly USGS Woods Hole U and Reston VA; now Affiliate Professor, School of Public Policy,
George Mason University, Arliington VA)

Norrie Robbins

July 12, 2011

Jim Minard--wonderful geologist, terrific friend. At the USGS in DC in 1967, we worked in the same building, Bldg. 10; and then he hired me in 1972 in Crystal City, VA, after I returned from grad school. He was our fabulous project chief, leading the search for petroleum in the offshore basins under the Atlantic Ocean. He kept the project focused and having fun by baking chocolate chip cookies every day, so we had to check in with him and let him hear our daily progress. It was so much fun working with him. When the new USGS building was ready in Reston, VA, we went to separate branches and he continued mapping the Coastal Plain with Jim Owens. I missed him when he left for the west coast. I missed watching his kids become adults. Love you all, Norrie.

Brett Cox

July 11, 2011

I met Jim in 2001, a few years after he completed mapping the geology of the Seattle-Everett region. I will remember him for being a genuinely nice person, as well as a very smart and accomplished geologist.

July 4, 2011

Brent I was the first friend that you made when you moved here from if I remember right Virginia. I still remember both your parents your father had so many stories that I still remember a little bit.I am so sorry for your loss.I will have all of you in my prayers. Karen Turner Warren from Darrington Washington

Harry Minard Renken

July 3, 2011

My middle name is Minard. I was named after the doctor who brought me into this world at Valley General in Monroe,Wa. in 1951. I never met the man. I just felt compelled to share that. You have my condolences for the great loss of Jim.

Melinda Ramey

July 3, 2011

I had the privelege of knowing Jim. He would stop in @ our store, "Hunter's Corner" frequently and talk with my father, Russ Hunter. He was an admirable man.

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