The Leck family asks that donations in his memory be made to Heifer International
The Memorial Service was held on July 12th, 2011 at the Boston University Marsh Chapel. To read eulogies from Deidre Colby Sato and Amir Reza go to the Stories section.
For those of us who were blessed to have known James, we know that the intersection of our lives with his has brought us laughter, joy, friendship, knowledge, skills, and inspiration that will remain forever in our hearts and minds. James was that solid rock in the field of International Education and beyond, for so many years, often showing us the way by inspiring us. He was a kind soul whose deep passion for cross-cultural interaction touched the lives of thousands of international students, scholars, and colleagues from around the globe. He was often described as larger than life.
Tributes
Leave a tributeIt has been a year without you, old friend. I think of you so often and wish for your wise counsel and unfailing ability to make me laugh. Missy and I exchanged messages about you yesterday - look in on us sometimes. Gone but never, ever forgotten.
"Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened.”
― Dr. Seuss
He was the true embodiment of the best of our profession
Leave a Tribute
Student Administrator
Jim was a high school student. His bearing, wisdom, caring and intuition combined to make him a professional educator, at the age of 17. He loved our school and the people in it. When he came to visit, most of the teachers treated him as an equal....it was just his natural polish that created this wonderful teddy bear friend and humor-filled cohort. He could easily have managed the entire school district all before the age of twenty.
As in Karen's story above, he would fling this old chemistry teacher over his hips and between his legs in a jitter-bug. He'd play kazoos with me and entertained my classes with his "Dueling Banjos" rendition with a kazoo in each nostril. In the brief seconds in which he was a guest in the room, somehow he made contact with every person in that room and communicated that he was aware of each and sensed their inner thoughts. I have never known anyone with this penetrating love.
When John told me on Facebook about Jim's passing, I just melted (and still do) into a puddle of tears. There is not a snippet written about him that is not true in every nuance and detail. I can't imagine the pain of Sue, Jim's parents, Uncle Charlie, John and other members of the family.
How thankful I am that he worked with foreign students and imparted an impression so far from "The Ugly American" perception that much of the world sees. I loved the 'Ice Ice Baby' video and wish I had been there to share in his continuing antics. All men are NOT created equal....can you imagine if ALL men were Jim Lecks? That is the kind of world for which we should strive. The whole staff taking maternity leave?....that is typical of the kind of contagion Jim's humor spurred. Long live that kind of contagion.
Thank God he walked among us.
Enveloped by his hugs!
I liked reading the story by Tracy Reza (Master Hugger) about my nephew, Jimmy Leck. Oh, my! How he could put his arms around you and how loved you felt when he did it! It is a few months now since he moved on and out among the stars, but I miss him so incredibly much and find it difficult to believe he is no longer among us. I think of what Milton wrote…
“When once our heavn’ly-guided soul shall climb
Then all this earthy grossness quit
Attir’d with stars, we shall forever sit
Triumphing over Death, and Chance
and thee, O Time
Jimbo was my man! I stubbornly refuse to let memories of him slip away. And, I cling savagely to the memories of his hugs!
Jim Leck
A long, long time ago in a place far, far away, when Jim first sashayed into Sue’s southern sphere, he was known by her extensive family simply as ‘The American’. Any mention of ‘The American’ triggered loaded looks, with concern apparent, as it was wordlessly debated whether ‘he’ was good enough for our precious little gem, Sue. There was some to-ing and fro-ing, some hithering and dithering but Jim and Sue hung in there and the day came when that ring of commitment was pushed over the knuckle of obstacles and Jim and Sue where triumphantly wed.
As the years passed and the family became more and more familiar with Jim and his peculiarly wicked humour and unfailing kindness, as they recognized his devotion to Sue and his commitment to their union, they finally granted him that unmistakable mark of membership into the family fold – relentless and merciless teasing, as well as a nickname which invariably, for some peculiar reason, often ends up with your given name being ‘longened’ rather than shortened. And so, Jim became Jimbo. Of course, there was no teasing that Jimbo did not give back in spades, no affection that he left untended, nor was a smile ever left furled when he was near which only served to make him even more adored by all, with the older generation referring to him, with visible softening, as Darling Jimbo; the younger ones, smile broad, as Uncle Jim.
There are those who fill their space in life inch by gingerly little inch. Not Jim - he filled his in sweeping miles! He committed unstintingly to his work, his colleagues and his students; he embraced his family and friends with generous affection; he entertained the room, any room, anywhere, with incisive intelligence, razor wit and startling mimicry, spreading contagious laughter like butter on warm toast, lifting loneliness, easing anxiety, welcoming all.
But mostly, he loved Sue. And for that he will always be remembered by the family with a full sun of love, a cloud of regret at a life cut far too short, and a rainbow of vivid memories that will hold Darling Jimbo right here forever, just where and when we need him most.
Cousin Adele Yin for Victor, Adele, Bili and Zoe Yin
Austin, Texas
10 July 2011