James Alfred Elias

I first met Jim Elias at age 9, when my older sister Ann (mom to Erika and Christine) introduced him to the family. I instantly adored him, because my sister was in love with him. I was also in awe because he was such a cool, confident, strong, handsome, successful grown up. While he was always nice to me, it was when I was in 8th grade that Jim became a true friend. Early in that year, I wrote to my siblings and asked them to rescue me from my parents and this isolated place in Petersburg, Alaska, where we had recently moved, and it was Jim who first responded with a letter back to me. He was the first person to express that he understood how I felt. He also paid for me to come visit during that year. His acts of family love during a difficult time in my life stayed with me ever since. There were many more times of Jim being an amazing brother-in-law to me: He was very generous with his time, taking me hiking, helping me select my first hiking equipment, driving me or letting me use his car, and the like. Some of my best family memories were times spent at the dinner table in the Elias family home, especially in Bellevue. The conversations were always energizing. Even during heated debates about this or that, he wanted to continue discussions about complex issues and tried hard to listen to other perspectives. I always felt welcome, no matter what else was going on at the time. Jim's unconditional family love was a grounding influence in my life, especially until I found my own way. It feels so good now to know that his love is still in me, even though he has not been a significant presence in my life for a long time. Erika, Christine, and your families: John and I hope the many layers of unconditional family love - from your mom and dad and the rest of us who love you so deeply - will help bring you comfort and peace. There is no "good" time for a loved one to die - and we wish you could have had more time with both of your parents. At the same time, your dad was lucky - and so were you - that you had the nine months after your mom passed away, just to soak in your love of one another before it was his time to go. He seemed so content and at peace when we saw him last July in Bellevue, and that's the image that we will carry of him now. Much Love, Aunt Mary and Uncle John