A salute to Uncle Jim

I can't attribute the following quote, but I once heard someone say that we should strive to leave this world a better place than we found it.

It's safe to say Dr. James Valesano -- better known as Uncle Jim to me -- accomplished the above with flying colors before he passed away earlier this week at age 84.

Uncle Jim's life was all about serving others. A part of the Greatest Generation, he was just a teen-ager in the early 1940s when his country asked him to go off to war. So he went, as a member of the U.S. Navy.

You can read about all the contributions Uncle Jim made during his distinguished career as an educator in the Aurora, Illinois school system -- grade school, high school and at Aurora University -- by clicking on this link: http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/foxvalleysun/news/2321880,2_1_AU27_EASTOBITS_S1-100527.article

Uncle Jim also served his church as a deacon for many years (he began in 1975). I lost count of how many priests participated in his funeral Mass on Thursday morning. Their numbers -- along with the number of people who attended the Mass -- is a testament to how he served them, and the admiration they had for him.

"Jim had a delightful personality, was very engaging and extremely social," said Gary Jewel, a former West Aurora school superintendent who worked with Uncle Jim. "He loved people."

He loved his family even more. He had several pet names for his beloved wife of nearly 60 years, my Aunt Alma. One of them was Susie.

Susie suffered a stroke a few years ago. Eventually, she was placed in a nursing home. Uncle Jim attended to her needs every day ... and continued to do so even when he, too, had to take up residence at that same nursing home.

Uncle Jim slowed down considerably the last year or two of his life. Yet he always had a smile on his face. His mind remained sharp -- he'd regularly send us e-mail updates on Aunt Alma -- and his sense of humor was one of his best attributes. Conversations peppered with quips and jokes were the norm for Uncle Jim.

Uncle Jim regularly asked me what I had been writing about, and encouraged me in my efforts. But I'll let you in on a family secret: He was the writer extraordinaire in our family. If memory serves me correctly, he either edited, or contributed to, a number of books. I've got a long way to go before I even begin to equal Uncle Jim's efforts.

On this Memorial Day weekend, it seems only fitting to pay tribute to you, Uncle Jim. Thank you for your service to our country. But most of all, thank you for everything you've done for your family. And for bringing a smile to our faces.

"Well done, good and faithful servant." (Matthew 25:23)