Deceased March 3, 2000
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In Memory
It is very sad to report the death of our friend and classmate, Jim Meyer. He was diagnosed with cancer in the fall of last year and died this year at his home in Montague Center, Mass., on March 3. Jim is survived by his wife, Jean Gustafson; a brother, Andrew, of Los Angeles, Calif.; 11 nieces and nephews; and two great-nephews.
After graduation, Jim played his trumpet professionally in New York and on the West Coast. As a high school student in Harrison, N.Y., he had played in New York City with jazz greats that included Miles Davis. His decision to go back to school was a difficult one on which he would often reflect. He received a master of science degree in clinical psychology for Florida State University and his doctorate in 1973. For awhile he was a mental health clinician in Maine before returning to the Amherst area in 1980.
At that time the Farren Memorial Hospital under the auspices of the Sisters of Providence was a general hospital at which Jim worked as a consulting psychologist. The closing of the Farren Memorial in 1988 for financial reasons coincided with the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health’s decision to close many of its institutions. Seeing a need to serve the physically ill who were also mentally ill, the Sisters of Providence reopened the Turners Falls facility as the Farren Care Center. Jim and his partner, Roger Jones, who had recently formed Montague Psychological Associates, were the consulting psychologists who helped the Farren Care Center get started. Jim had married Jean Gustafson, a nurse and psychiatric social worker. Bill Hart ’69 was the lawyer for Jim’s group, and from time to time, Jim would see Rob Simpson ’69, head of mental health services at the nearby Franklin Medical Center. During the past few years, Jim and I would take part in care plan meetings for residents on the ground floor where I’ve been a nurse aide. I will miss his readiness to listen and his positive, helpful guidance of our discussions.
At Amherst, where I did not know Jim, he was a popular member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity. From Ted Fowler ’69: “What sad news to hear of Jim’s death. It seems like only yesterday that he and I, quite in character, stumbled into each other on the Beta porch during a reunion and immediately launched reminiscent about the good old days.” Ted recalls Jim as “a big part of our esprit” who was “studious” during the week, but “come the Weekend (I capitalize this because they all took on holiday proportions), Jim was usually there—a warrior to the wee hours.”
Ted tells of Jim’s role in a memorable parents’ weekend: “The Beta house was looking particularly beaten up (and smelled even worse) because our custodial engineer, the light-fingered Elliot Thornton, had opted to go on strike to get even with the brotherhood for not paying him his salary on time. Jim saved the day. As if by magic, just when it appeared that our opportunity to impress was beyond redemption, he assembled some colleagues and, masquerading as a jazz band to critical parental acclaim, he rescued us all from total disinheritance—finishing the set with his own lively and accomplished saxophone rendition of ‘Watermelon Man.’ He got a huge ovation from all of us that could still stand; and whenever I later saw him, I would always ask him if he still played.”
“Yours-in-Kai, Jim; we’ll miss you, your devilish smile and warm heart for every man. And, more than anything, I wish I could hear you play that tune just one more time.”
In recent years, Jim did pick up his horn more often to play both jazz and classical music. Moreover, he wrote in the 25th Reunion book: “I motorcycle a lot (even after having worked in emergency rooms); do whitewater canoeing when I can and spend many wonderful moments with my wife, Jean, and my two dogs. All in all a happy family. ...”
The memorial service for Jim was in Johnson Chapel on March 19. Ron Bell, the assistant superintendent of Amherst schools, played the trumpet. Five of Jim’s friends, including his brother Andrew and his colleague Roger Jones, spoke, and others volunteered their memories in a service lasting about an hour. There was a lighter moment when this story was told: Jim was playing in a local band when one of the double bass player’s strings suddenly loosened causing strange intermittent sounds throughout the remainder of the piece. When it was over, Jim said, “The next time we need a solo, we’ll ask you.”
I feel fortunate to have worked briefly with Jim and with the help of others to have had glimpses of his wonderful life. We are all grateful for his music, charm, courage, kind service and friendships. We extend our best wishes to Jean and his family.
Ned Wolfe ’69