Denys wrote me privately a note concerning Jim. I wrote back and suggested
that he post it to the list, as it is, unedited. I consider it to be as good
a memorial to Jim's personality as anything anyone might write. Irascibility
is just another word for courage and determination.

Denys wrote back:

> I hesitate to do that as it is not my style (hell, some might say I have no
> style), but you have my permission to repost it if you want.

With his permission, Denys wrote:

========================================

That is sad to hear.  After Jim posted his original message, we
corresponded privately over a period of several weeks.  I was trying to go
and visit with him in the hospital when he was there.  He lived a couple
hundred miles to the southwest of Houston, close to the Mexican border, a
5-6 hour ride from here.

At one time he was in Houston at the same time I was in town, but he did
not want me to come and visit, because he couldn't talk and he felt
uncomfortable meeting me for the first time when he was in such a bad
shape.  So the opportunity came and went.  Then he told me he was doing
better and he wasn't coming to Houston anymore.  Irascible as he was,
perhaps that was not quite the whole truth.

In any event, when I told my wife, the nurse, about his condition, she
matter of factly stated that he had very little time left.  She was right,
as usual.

Now, I really regret not pushing my way in to meet with him, no matter what
is condition was.  He told me that he had never met anyone from the list
and that it would be fun, but . . . not now, later. . .  There will be no
later.

Thanks for letting us know.  It's raining like hell right now, how fitting.

Kind regards,

Denys. . .

Denys Beauchemin
HICOMP
(800) 323-8863  (281) 288-7438         Fax: (281) 355-6879
denys at hicomp.com                             www.hicomp.com

========================================

Wirt Atmar