James Corcoran Mathews

By Jay Mathews

My brother James Corcoran Mathews died June 23 at age 77 in San Mateo, Calif. He was a brilliant educator who had time for every student and energy for every challenge.  

I don't think I have known anyone as quick as Jim to spread good cheer, or as determined to complete every task no matter how long it took him. He was born in Long Beach, Calif., sustaining an injury during birth that slowed him down but never brought him to a halt.

He graduated from Hillsdale High School in San Mateo in 1964 and got his college education at the College of San Mateo and the California State Universities at San Diego and San Francisco. 

His long career in schools began with handling and repairing all kinds of computers at the San Mateo-Foster City Elementary District, followed by widespread work as a media services technician at the San Mateo County Community College District, and then his final years as a legendary technology magician delighting kids at the Baywood Elementary School computer lab.
Many of his closest and dearest friends were at the College Heights Church in San Mateo, where he sang, spoke and helped make every Sunday a lively occasion.

"He loved nothing more than to be asked to do a dramatic reading in lieu of the sermon, or to solo a song," said his friend Karen Conklin. "Jim and Pastor Ev Rouse, also a fine tenor, ended nearly every service with a sung benediction--"Sabbath Prayer" from the musical "Fiddler on the Roof."

Jim was extremely generous. Conklin recalled him donating the airfare to bring a seminarian from Mexico to a sacred dance class at the Pacific School of Religion and financing children's purchases of the books they most wanted in the College Heights Church library.

He knew a mother with two young sons in need of housing so he invited them to live with him at the Mathews house on Voelker Drive. Church leader Polly Moore said "he needed help doing things around the house, from cooking to taking out the trash. It was a practical solution that seemed to serve all of them well for the years that she was there."

Jim's friend Jane Hazlett recalled his widespread reputation a computer guru at the College of San Mateo, Baywood School and the College Heights Church. He spread his wisdom by training children to handle the equipment at Baywood and designated them his official substitutes when he needed a breather at lunchtime.

At the church, Moore recalled, "he loved the 'talkback' part of our service, right after the sermon. Jim always had something to add. Very often it was to remind us that 'energy is neither created nor destroyed.' When you think about it, there are some interesting theological ramifications to that statement."

As a child, Conklin got many doses of what she called her old friend Jim's "keen sense of justice." When she was about ten he informed her: "We don't pick California poppies-it's the state flower!" She said "the whole Civil Rights era and movement was also very important to him."

Jim loved spending time with his nephews Joe and Peter and his niece Katie, and later his grandnephews Ben, Tom and Sam. Joe remembered "he had a good singing voice and used it in community theater up and down the peninsula. I found him especially compelling in multiple appearances as FDR in the musical Annie, convincing Daddy Warbucks to support the New Deal."

Jim also shared with the younger Mathewses his pride at having help manage the Hillsdale High School football team when it won the league championship under coach Dick Vermeil, later an NFL Hall of Fame coach who won the Super Bowl with the St. Louis Rams.

Joe said of his Uncle Jim: "If Disney stock takes a hit, it's because the company just lost its most devoted fan. He had seen every movie and read every book. I had a grandmother in Anaheim who would take me to Disneyland, but I never cared for it-until I went with Jim. He started when the park opened and stayed until closure. And he would take you to every corner of the park, stop at every stairwell and stare at every painting or design-and know the story behind them. He showed how the place was way more than fun-it was art, history and an intellectual project."

Jim spent his last years, as our parents Tom and Frances had done, at the San Mateo board and care facility run by Ane Haupeakui and her wonderful family. There were always small children of the Haupeakui clan who made Jim's life a joy. He was full of stories of their latest adventures and provocative statements.

Jim wasn't able to say much in our last visits with him, but he had already provided us with a treasure trove of great talk. We would tell him what was going on in our lives, then sit and remember the good fortune that had brought such a lively and caring person into our lives, and all his stories we would never forget.

Friends are invited to attend a memorial service at 2 p.m. on Saturday, September 7, 2024 at College Heights Church, 1150 W. Hillsdale Blvd., San Mateo.