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James Rodrigues Obituary
Jim was raised in Oakland, California, the son of Mercy and James Rodrigues and sister of Linda. After leaving Oakland, he spent time in Yosemite, where he was a founding member of the Hells Angels of the Wilderness while working for the Yosemite cross-country ski school. In the mid 1980s, Jim moved to the Monadnock region.
Jim was a dedicated member of the Nordic ski community, both locally and nationally. His passion for everything Nordic was expressed through his years as a coach, mentor, FIS technical delegate, official, trail designer and builder. Jim served as an FIS technical delegate in locations from New Hampshire to Japan. He received numerous awards, including the 2018 Ski NH Al Merrill Award and the Eastern Intercollegiate Ski Association Service Award. Jim donated countless hours to organizations and ski teams throughout New England: he helped at all levels from grooming to training, and mentored countless individuals over the years. The many high school athletes he coached will remember him for his constant support and encouragement.
The ski trails Jim designed on his property in Antrim, affectionately named 'Taco Acres,' were great to ski but his real legacy to the Nordic community in the Monadnock region was his creation of the "Super K,11 a loop of lit trails with snowmaking at Temple Mountain Ski Area in the late 1980s that attracted skiers and racers from near and far. It was ahead of its time and was a testament to Jim's vision for the sport. He firmly believed when you did something, you did it right the first time.
Jim leaves behind his former wife Dana, stepdaughter Shelby, and countless friends from around the region and his many travels. Jim could always be counted on to share good food (especially if it was spicy), good R&B music, and a cold beer with his many friends. He will be missed by so many, from New Hampshire to California - and beyond. His sense of humor, passion for life, and insistence that things always be done right the first time will stay forever with those who shared their lives with Jim.
Contributions in the memory of Jim can be made to https://nensa.net/giving/donate/ or checks may be mailed to payable to NENSA.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for James Rodrigues
Greg Niemela
March 15, 2025
Jim was a hard scape professional. He worked on landscaping projects for clients that I also worked on as a carpenter. Awesome guy! Can't say enough about Jimmy. Can't believe he's gone.
RIP Jim.
Fred Griffin
March 10, 2025
Miss you, Jim
Tom Masterson
December 11, 2023
Lots of smiles at the Rodrigues sprints at Craftsbury this weekend. This Nordic ski race in Jim´s memory is a great tribute to all his hard work and the smiles he brought to the New England Nordic ski community. He´s surely missed.
Robert Sorensen
September 14, 2022
Jim , I will always remember are trip to The meadows in winter 1979 ! Will always miss you ! And our friendship ! Bob Sorensen
Ethan Townsend
March 11, 2022
Looking ahead to our hosting of NCAA championships a year from now it is an event that Jim would have been excited to be a part of. It was always such a relief to have his support and insight for hosting races. He as also just so much fun to be around!
Fred Griffin
March 10, 2022
It's been two years now, Jim, and I still miss your smiling face, laughter, expertise in all things skiing,
and friendship
Bob Ashworth
December 4, 2020
I was lucky to know Jim in Yosemite all those years ago. RIP, Jim
Bob Ashworth.
Elizabeth Earle
April 14, 2020
We were saddened to hear of his death. He was such a generous and kind soul. He was our daughter's ski coach for many years and so supportive. He helped us clear our land one weekend so we could put up a tent when she got married. Our sincere and deepest regrets to his family and friends.
Paquin Robert
April 14, 2020
I met Jim thru his stone work. Working beside him for years lots of years . We done so many projects. Moved lots n lots of stone over the years . Making great stories while we did . So many laughs , it was fun . Do it right the first time ( so true ) . I hear him now , hey Bob I'm about to tell you something . Let's do it right the first time don't be using those front shims . We did have a great time . ....... hey Jim , I'm about to tell you something ,,,,,,, I will miss you
Fred Griffin
April 13, 2020
There is no end to the list of projects we worked on, ideas we shared, stadiums we set up, races we worked, tales we swapped, beers we drank, and through it all ran his laughter, his good spirits, his generosity. He is sorely missed
Fred Griffin
Richrd Reilly
April 5, 2020
Jim was such a cool guy and one of those people you always smiled when you saw him coming, worked a lot of jobs on wonderful estates with him and he did excellent work, he had a very organic feel for stone walls , and stone work. Just a really talented good dude .
jim townsend
March 31, 2020
A few years back, Jim building a stone wall for a neighbor on River Road, Manchester, NH. It looks lovely and I think of Jim every time I jog by. Jim lived life with enthusiasm, and was a major contributor to the health of the Nordic ski community.
Tony & Judy Tate
March 30, 2020
It was a privilege and tremendous pleasure to've known Jim.
He was absolutely one of the really good, good guys.
Terry Aldrich
March 23, 2020
Jim was our Midd. Carnival TD for many years. What a great Man. He will be missed.
Peter Moore
March 21, 2020
His smile in the photo here says it all, a man with a love for life, for Nordic ski community and selfless devotion to others. We will all miss you, Jim.
Peter, Louisa and Ian Moore
Steve Blazejewski
March 20, 2020
If there is a ski trail in Heaven, Jim will be on it. God bless you my friend.
Trina Hosmer
March 19, 2020
I was so saddened to hear about the passing of Jim. I always looked forward to his cheery smile and hello at the races. He was a good man and will be missed by so many. My sincere condolences to his family. Sincerely, Trina and Dave Hosmer
Klaus and Christine Bayr
March 17, 2020
We are sad to learn about the passing of Jim. I just saw him a few weeks ago at Dublin. He was always friendly and helpful to our skiing community. We have lost a good friend.
Maren Gagne
March 17, 2020
I was so fortunate to know and work with Jim. He was a true Renaissance man, bringing vast knowledge and a high aesthetic to all endeavors he undertook- from cooking and hosting to wall building. Our community has suffered a great loss in his passing. He was a force of nature, a generous pragmatist, a passionate citizen of the world, an unstoppable wit and so much more.
Ethan Townsend
March 17, 2020
So many great times working with Jim. As a chief of comp and TD he set a high bar for professionalism while always having an understanding of what could and couldn't be done in the short or long term. Every event he was a part of only got better over time.
Matt Pauli
March 16, 2020
Thanks for the friendship and memories. Godspeed my brother.
Jim Tomacchio
March 16, 2020
As the days and weeks pass, and as you return to life's routine, may you continue to feel comforted by the love and support of family and friends.
Cathy LaMontagne
March 16, 2020
It is with great sadness to lose Jimmy. talented And fun loving.
Always greeted us with a smile. He made the world a more beautiful place, thru friendship and stone by stone.
Ron and Cathy LaMontagne
Mike Elluott
March 16, 2020
What a tragic lost for a special and talented man. It was always so special to see Jim's similing face even though I usually only saw him during the winters. It was never about himself. It was about doing what was fair and what was the right thing to do. Rest well Jim and we will all miss you.
March 16, 2020
The best Hells Angel of the Wilderness in Yosemite National Park at the cross country ski school!
John Estle
March 16, 2020
I will miss you, Jim.
Jim Townsend training for CIGNA 5 K road race
jim townsend
March 16, 2020
Jim was a dear friend and comrade. He claims I taught him how to T.D. races, but I think though I started before him, he taught us all. And he was thrilled one time when I shared a history reading suggesting that the first settler (not counting the natives) in New York City was a Portugese American named Rodrigues. Jim's passing is a great loss to the nordic skiing world, to say the least.
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