James Edward Speed

1919 - 2009
James Edward Speed was born on December 16th, 1919 in Erie Pennsylvania and passed away on Wednesday, August 12th, 2009 in New York City, his home for over 60 years. Jim became passionate about music at a young age and was playing jazz piano in high school as well as singing in and arranging for the school's a capella choir. He played professionally in college and entertained the troops as an enlisted man in World War II. After the war ended, he and his wife Jane, a mystery writer, moved to New York City, and they embraced its rich cultural life wholeheartedly. Jim worked professionally as a jazz pianist, singer, arranger and writer for many years, and then was employed as one of the early programmers for IBM. Jim also adored walking, and he was a familiar sight at Fort Tryon Park, just a few blocks from their Washington Heights apartment. He was a loving husband, father, and grandfather, and he will be profoundly missed. He was preceded in death by his wife, Jane K. Speed and his sister, Ruth Campbell, and is survived by his son, David Speed and his partner, Karen Samberg, his daughter, Jill Curl and her husband, John Curl, his daughter, Barbara Speed and her husband, Fletcher Oakes, his granddaughter, Rachel Curl and her husband, Lalo Medina, and by Fletcher's sons, Bryn and Jason, and their families. A memorial will be held on Thursday, October 1st, 2009, between 1 and 3 in the afternoon, at the New York Society for Ethical Culture, 2 West 64th Street, near Central Park West. For more information, call 646 318 6721.