Dr. James A. Van Fleet

I learned only today via sources at the University of Toledo of Dr. Van Fleet's passing. My wife and I are deeply saddened at this news. He was most certainly a great influence in my life. I lived with him (and Gandalf II) while a graduate student at U.T. During this time, and while I was in Beijing, my then-girlfriend (now wife) also developed a fondness for him, and he for her, so much so that he was a guest reader at our wedding. He was a blessing in our lives and we are grateful that he was able to meet our daughters in Washington D.C. a few years back, and that I was able to tell him in person how much I appreciated all he had done for me and for my family. His legacy will live on in our memories and in the form of future deeds that will be done to help others as he so frequently and unselfishly did. God Bless You, Dr. Van Fleet, and, of course, "Abrazos." You will be greatly missed.

I unfortunately lost track of Jim when he left Louisville, but thought of him often. In fact, I was thinking of him again today, and was hoping I might locate him on the internet and reconnect, when I found this sad news of his passing.

I met Jim while he was a professor at UL and I was a student, and we became instant friends. Jim was easy to talk to, funny, and always had an interesting story to share. He became a good friend to my parents as well, and Jim was often a guest at their dinner table. I was fortunate enough to have spent a month with Jim one summer while he was teaching in Germany and I was awaiting my bar results. I've always considered Jim one of the most influential people in my life, a great mentor, and I will miss him very much. I am lucking to have known him, and will carry and share my fond memories of our time together, including his tales of intrigue while he was abroad, his love for Gandalf, his VW Beetle, and going to Foreign Affairs meetings together. Jim, you may be gone, and I’m so sorry to have not found you again sooner, but you will live on in my thoughts of our time together.

Gabriel and I are going to miss you and all the e-mail correspondence.

I was deeply saddened to hear about Jim's passing. He has been a great supporter of international causes in our area, and he will be sorely missed.
Norma Henning, Honorary Consul to the Federal Republic of Germany

Only good things come to mind and for that we're grateful. Scrabble tournaments on Normandy Hill Drive (you always won); blackjack games in Reno (you always lost); movies with you and Holly in DC; doubling-up on steak in Buenos Aires and tapas in Madrid. You were the most intellectually curious person we've ever known and we'll miss you greatly.

Valued friend and mentor to many. I knew Jim for over forty years. I shared his house in Alexandria while I was a young Army officer at the Pentagon. I had lots of questions and Jim had better answers. I learned a great deal and gained an appreciation for things like Andean indian folk music. I shall miss him greatly.
Adios, Don Diego---Don Carlos

Though we only knew each other for a few years - I thoroughly enjoyed your experiences, your insight, and your friendship. Thank you for being such a wonderful person.

I must have been very young when I met Jim because I don't remember a time when I didn't know him. My father, Dr. Hugh Hinton of the University of Toledo, met him in Peru when they were both graduate students there, and they had been good friends ever since. I remember visiting Jim at his house near Louisville, KY, nearly every time we made a road trip to visit family in Texas, which was at least once a year. I always looked forward to our visits - Jim always seemed glad to see me and interested in talking with me about a wide range of subjects during our visits despite my young age. My fondest memory of him is the trust he showed when he allowed me, at age 19, to drive his Porche from Louisville to Toledo just prior to his move there when a friend of mine and I were driving up from Texas. I may have never known him as well as my father did but he was as graceful and articulate a gentleman as I have ever met. Farewell, Jim.

Jim~ We have been friends since pre-Kindergarten! We went through grade school, High School, College together and shared a house in Washington, D.C. You have been a part of our family growing up and later with my wife, Cathy and children. We are proud of your many accomplishments and looked forward to your Christmas letters with all your activities. I was anticipating our get-together at our 50th Central High School reunion the end of this month in Scranton. We will fondly miss your visits, emails, conversations, etc. but you will not be forgot! God Bless, good Friend!
Jay and Cathy Corcoran

You were always invoved with many programs at the University of scranton I included you as one of my friends in our undergraduate years You did well my friend.
God Bless