James Arnold Felling

FELLING James A. Felling, 64, died on Sunday, April 22nd after a two-year battle with cancer. Jim is survived by his wife Margot, son Casey and daughter Jordan. A 35-year resident of Lake Forest, James and Margot moved to Chicago in recent years. Jim was well known among the cognoscenti of the specialty foods arena as a groundbreaking entrepreneur, importer and promoter. Jim was born in Minneapolis, MN where he was a talented young athlete in baseball and basketball. Jim graduated from the University of Minnesota with a B.A. from the School of Journalism and played on the U. of M. baseball team in the final game of the UCLA Championship in 1968. After graduation, he traveled with his friend and future wife of 40 years, Margot, to Europe, Greece, Turkey, the Middle East and Scandinavia for a year. Jim soon became a sales representative in the ski industry, working for Rossignol, Spaulding and others, even personally delivering Rossignol skis to then-U.S. Vice President Gerald Ford to his home in Grand Rapids, MI. In 1980, Jim co-founded Market Square Food Company, and later became a Director of the NASFT (National Association for the Specialty Food Trade). Jim imported extra virgin olive oils from Catalonia, Spain when Americans were largely unfamiliar with everyday cooking uses for specialty oils and the quality of Spanish olive oil. The L'Estornell brand became the 5th best-selling specialty oil in the US within 5 years. Other products he pioneered include marcona almonds, arbequina olives and whole caperberries among others. Jim was authentic and curious about new ideas concerning specialty foods, digging into new flavors well before the trend, from extra virgin olive oil to his latest venture, exotic Asian citrus! With a partner, Jim founded WA Imports in 2008, a progressive, ingredient-driven specialty foods importing company. Highlights include prized and rare Japanese Yuzu citrus products; distinctive marmalades, mayonnaises and vibrant hot sauces sold to high-end restaurants and specialty retailers throughout the U.S. Jim was a great lover of sports and became obsessed with sailing, taking the opportunity to crew in races on Lake Michigan, including the Chicago to Mackinac Race, and sailing whenever time permitted off the East coast. Despite Jim's extensive travel for both business and pleasure, Coastal Maine remained his favorite place in the world. Jim is also survived by brothers Thomas and John, and nephews Ian and Sean, and niece Lindsey, all of Minnesota. A celebration of life memorial will be held at Promontory Point on Chicago's South Shore at Noon on Sunday, June 10th. Arrangements by Cremation Society of Illinois, 773-281-5058 or www.cremation-society.com.