JIM PIPER

Jim was a wonderful teacher. His love for the craft of filmmaking was--and still is--an inspiration.

Thank you Jim for being a great guy, friend, neighbor, father, teacher and guide to so many. We had many oppor- tunities to share stories, thoughts and our family at City College, our children are still friends and you were great friends with Marian & Bruce my parents, niece Sarah Morris. So many inter- connections of films, literature, arts and progress for Fresno and world. You have left behind a great legacy. Over- whelming you life of service. So many of my friends were making movies with...

It hurts losing you Jim. You saw the world in ways others did not. You were a presence, always full of ideas and possibilities, able to see a story in a vignette of human behavior, not always pretty...

I saw you lead students through a process of logical thought that clarified their ideas and left them feeling they'd come through that discovery on their own. You never wielded your sensibilities or position over people. So approachable that most people I knew called you Jim. So easy to...

My condolences to Mr. Piper's wife, children and grandchild. I met Mr.Piper in 1967/68 and helped shoot an 8mm film that he was working on with another student, Albert Cirimele.

I'm not ready to say goodbye, Jim. There are hundreds of emails in my laptop, some I may not have even answered yet. I've got drafts of your stories and copies of your books, and many, many photos of our good times together. We met nearly 60 years ago at Pasadena City College. You were a writer then and continued all your life; I'm sure you were thinking of new stories while in ICU. We transferred to Cal at the same time and I would visit you in your tiny monk's cell over the coffee shop...

Mr. Piper your English and fiction classes were the lifeline I clung to during some dark and turbulent days in my life. I never forgot your ability to illuminate ideas and bring new pathways of thought to the learning table. Even though our paths diverged years ago; whenever I see Das Boot or Picnic At Hanging Rock you are there in my memory with me. I know your work touched the lives of countless other students and I am truly blessed to have been one of them. I am so sorry for the accident...

I had Mr. Piper as a teacher in the 70's for several classes at FCC.
He was always one of my favorite teachers.
He had a way about him that always made you think" out of the box",making each class fun as well as educational. He was open minded, and when he taught, you could see the sparkle in his eyes when you "got it".I enjoyed his closes very much.
In my minds eye I can see him in Heaven, discussing filmmaking with Orson Wells! :)
My condolences to his family, and may he Rest...

Hi Carol, this is Carol Ehat that worked in the FCC Cafeteria or 22 years and your Jim always had time to visit for a few minutes...what a very nice guy he was. I last saw him at Richard Hansons funeral and we had a good visit.. I am blessed to have had Jim in my life all those years... sending you a huge hug and tons of love and peace, Carol Ehat