Jim loved travelling. He and Eric often visited Europe and other parts of the world, celebrating his 70th birthday in grand style in London with friends from his journeys. 

Jim also loved to be at home, whether on West Boulevard in Alexandria, in Bonita Springs, or at a third home on Lake Boca in Boca Raton. For many years, Jim and Eric owned a home and wintered in Maui, and he often mused about whether they should buy another place in Hawaii, too. 

After graduating from the University of Minnesota with a B.A. in Political Science and Journalism, Jim taught middle school in Illinois. He returned to Minnesota after several years of teaching to become the Chief Public Information Officer for the Minnesota Senate.

In 1977, Jim’s dreams came true and he moved to Washington, D.C. to work for Rep. Bruce F. Vento (D-MN), rising to be top political advisor. After leaving Capitol Hill, Jim served as President Carter’s first Director of Legislative Policy for the U.S. Department of Education. Remaining in Washington, D.C., Jim then began his long-standing relationship with the State of Florida by becoming the Federal Liaison for Florida Education Commissioner Betty Castor.

Jim left government in 1996 to become a lobbyist for higher education clients at APCO Worldwide. In 1999, he established his own federal relations firm, JCP Associates, and for many years represented Florida’s state university system before Congress and the Executive branch.

Jim’s late parents, Clifford and Margery Pirius, raised him and his late sister, Carol Ann, to love the ice. Jim was always seeking friends to watch competitive skating and ice dancing with him on TV or at the rink. He brought that same passion to golf. 

Eric Nerf, his loving partner of 29 years, survives, as do brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Ronald and Jane Nerf, nieces and nephew Katelyn, Mitchell, Amy and Allyson Nerf and godchildren Spencer, Trevor, and Anastasia Blankley, Andrew Friberg and Colleen Brady-Lindstrom.

Jim's life-long devotion exemplary contributions to students and the field of education spanned decades beginning as a teacher in Minnesota and including service in the nation’s Capitol as a Member of the staff of Congressman Bruce Vento, as the principle Congressional Liaison for the US Department of Education under Presidents Carter and Reagan, service as the Federal Liaison and Director of Legislative Policy for the Florida Education Department and the Commissioner of Education of Florida, and as a consultant through his successful firm of JCP Associates of Alexandria, for the University of South Florida and the Indiana and Minnesota Departments of Education.

In these roles he worked closely with Academic and Congressional leaders, researchers and students to help secure funding for significant projects in healthcare, alternative energy, the environment and homeland security. These projects continue to add quality to the lives of not only Floridians, but all Americans.