James R. MIEKKA

MIEKKA, James R. 54, of Homosassa, who was blind, died after a traffic accident in Surry, ME on Aug. 19, 2014. James was a stock market analyst and newsletter writer, best known for his Hindenburg Omen predictor, and for developing the Miekka Formula. More information on each of these can be obtained by Googling the titles given above. After being blinded in an accident in 1986, he wanted to continue target shooting with his friends, so he invented a scope that converts light rays to sound, enabling him to hit a bulls eye 200 yards away. Now this scope is being studied by Michigan State University as an aid for the blind. Google "Blind Marksman" As an advocate for the blind he was vice president of Blind Americans in Hernando, once walking 130 miles from his home in Homosassa to St. Petersburg to raise funds for the organization. Channel 9 TV documented his effort. At other times Jim's activities have appeared in The Tampa Bay Times, The Tampa Tribune, The Bangor Times, The Wall Street Journal, Der Spiegel in Germany, and BBC in England and on CNBC television, but his most important legacy came from the way he lived his day to day to day life, replacing fear with faith and despair with hope with a message to others that they can do it too. James is survived by his parents, Richard and Jeanette Miekka; a brother, Frederick Miekka; and a sister, Cynthia Bordas. A funeral service will be held at 10:30 am on Wednesday, Sept. 10 at Cathedral Church of St. Peter 140 4th St. North, St. Petersburg. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to The Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation, 103 Vision Way, Bloomfield, CT. 06002. (https://www.fidelco.org)