Jim Purcell

1934 - 2024

Jim Purcell
09/23/1934 - 06/11/2024
Jim Peter Purcell
Jim Purcell was among the most remarkable people one could meet. A longtime resident of Muir Beach, he was a true renaissance man, at various times in his life a GI, a filmmaker, a jazz pianist, an Evelyn Wood speedreading teacher, a stock broker, a grad student at Berkeley's Wright Institute, and finally a psychotherapist at the SF Family Therapy Center. And he did each thing well. Very well. Especially the jazz.
JP began playing piano as a young boy in Spokane, Washington where he was raised. And, while he could never read or nor write music, he could play anything by ear and could emulate any style, and almost any performer. Playing jazz piano complimented all the other professions in which he excelled. He'd finish a day of filming or therapy, and then start a second at the keyboard at whatever venue was lucky to have him play. A regular at Zack's in the 50s and then at the Ricksha in Chinatown, he later played at the Trident in Sausalito for years. Probably his best musician friend was Denny Zeitlin. And he venerated Oscar Peterson and Dizzy Gillespie along with his great friends cat cartoon maven Hap Kliban and raconteur, actor, and musician, Scott Beach.
For those blessed by his friendship, there were many foggy evenings of music shared at his home in Muir Beach on a hill above the breakers looking south toward the City. Muir Beach was the place he loved most and was where he spent most of his life after settling into psychotherapy as his life's work, even while regularly playing around the Bay Area. His self-produced albums are treasured by many who have them, most of whom are perplexed as to why he never was commercially pursued.
Following a profound stroke 15 years ago, Jim's life changed as one might expect. In the end, he passed away of natural causes peacefully at Marin Terrace in Mill Valley. His sister, the artist M.J. Purcell, predeceased him some years ago. A small gathering of his friends is planned for Saturday, June 29th, and another later on at Muir Beach. Contact Drummond Pike by text at 415-987-0022 for information.