Well, this is a little weird, and I’m just posting it on February 15, because that’s where it belongs. But, I lost this post when I converted from Blogspot to my current server for Lesa’s Book Critiques. My husband died thirteen years ago today. Thanks to a friend, Ed Sharpe, who had this under Book Topics Archive, it’s recovered. I’m going to post it so I have it. Ed doesn’t know how much this means to me, that I recovered it.
Book Topics
Lesa Holstine our BOOK TOPICS editor this week lost her husband Jim, a bright and humorous fellow who you got to meet in our past year’s Fiesta Bowl coverage at the Glendale Daily Planet here. Goodbye Jim… You will be missed. – Ed Sharpe, Publisher – Glendale Daily Planet
Monday, February 15, 2010
James Arden Holstine – 1949-2010
Jim died today, at 12:30 a.m., on Presidents’ Day, the perfect day for a man who loved history, particularly of the Presidency. Since I prepared this epitaph ahead of time, at his request, I’m able to make this announcement.
Jim didn’t want a newspaper obituary. Instead, he asked that I write an epitaph about his love of books. Jim’s parents, Harry and Joanne Holstine, were both readers, and Jim learned to read at any early age, reading the sports pages in the newspaper, sharing that love with Harry. He was always so proud that he read the greatest number of books one year for the summer reading program at the Berlin Heights (Ohio) Public Library. And, I always laughed when he told about getting in trouble for an overdue book because he loved it so much, he hid it under his bed.
Jim and I met at the Huron Public Library in 1981, soon after I returned home to be Director of my hometown library. Jim’s mother sent him in, saying there was a cute new librarian at the library. And, my children’s librarian, Millie Schilman, formally introduced us, saying, “This is Jim Holstine. He’s one of our most prolific readers.”
Over the next couple years, we talked about books, and when he went to Florida in the winter, I told Millie I missed Jim Holstine because he was the only person who got as excited about the boxes of new books as I did. We went on our first date on May 1, 1983, and married on October 1. Since we met at the Huron Library, we married in the meeting room there, and Jim even played the piano beforehand. My staff tied paperback books to the bumper of the car.
From the very beginning, books were an important part of our lives. Jim often said he didn’t think we would have gotten together if we hadn’t both been fond of Leo Buscaglia’s books, Love and Living, Loving and Learning. When I invited him to speak at the library, Buscaglia sent me the most gracious rejection letter, which is still framed on our wall. We had no idea he had heart problems, and would die soon after writing that note.
I made Jim read Jeffrey Archer’s Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less, his favorite book. I never told him Archer was British, and Jim wouldn’t read British authors. Ironic that Lee Child became one of his favorite authors years later, but when he first went to see him at the Poisoned Pen, he turned to me and said, “You never told me he was British.” And, I said, “You never read the back flap of the book.”
Jim loved Florida, and we moved there with my job, first at the Charlotte-Glades Library System, and then the Lee County Library System. He enthusiastically participated in my work there, acting as a volunteer for the Lee County Reading Festival. He was thrilled when he escorted Douglas Brinkley during the festival, and we had the chance to have lunch with Brinkley and Rick Bragg. We picked Sue Grafton up at the airport. And, he had a lengthy conversation with David Morrell, “Rambo’s Father.”
It was Jim who pushed me to apply for jobs, and spent a great deal of time talking on the phone with my new boss in Glendale, AZ. I think she hired me because she liked him so much. And, he encouraged me every time I worked on my blog, buying me the camera to take pictures of authors, and then a minicam. He always challenged me to be better
I took Jim to meet Brad Meltzer on his birthday. He loved meeting Lee Child, and sharing a cigarette break outside the Poisoned Pen. He met Jeffery Deaver for the first time in the restroom (they didn’t shake hands – grin). We even went to see Barack Obama when he was on his book tour, and we had the chance to shake hands, and urge him to run for President. But, it was always books that brought us these opportunities.
Jim never had the chance to read Lee Child’s 61 Hours. His illness was so quick that, even though Maggie Griffin, Child’s webmaven, graciously sent me an ARC so Jim could get the chance to read one more book, he was never able to read it. Jim loved thrillers, books by Lee Child, James Patterson, Alex Kava, Brad Meltzer. He loved American history and big biographies, and anything about the Kennedys. Now, he’ll know the answer to his favorite joke. It’s about a man who dies, goes to heaven, and is told by God that he can ask him anything. The man says, “I want to know who really killed President Kennedy,” and God answered, “Well, I have a theory about that.” Jim’s favorite joke, his favorite subject for nonfiction, and his favorite topic for theories. Now, he’ll know.
Jim always loved the people I worked with, at Huron, Lee County (particularly at Rutenberg), and, here in Glendale. Someone made the comment that if you knew Lesa, you knew Jim, and, at least in the library, that was usually right. He threw my 50th birthday party with the help of the library staff.
There’s one part of Jim’s life I wanted to mention, unrelated to books. Jim and I shared a love of sports, and together, we enjoyed them on TV and in person. He loved Duke basketball, baseball, in recent years, the Detroit Tigers, NASCAR, thanks to a dear friend. But, we were both passionate about Ohio State football. My family always knew they could buy Jim gifts that related to Ohio State.
Jim always told people we only got married to read. And, when his father lived with us, he would walk out of his room, find us both reading, and say, “It sure is quiet out here.”
Jim, you left it very quiet out here. I’m going to miss sharing books, authors, my blog, and our life. Rest in peace. I love you.
If you want to remember Jim, please donate to your local public library. And, tell them it’s in memory of a man who loved books, libraries, and one librarian.
Your husband, Jim is unforgettable. I am so happy that you were married to him. Love that about the overdue book. I will always love libraries and those work there and passionate readers. Thank you for posting this tribute to him!
Thank you for reading it, Carolee.
What a lovely tribute. As long as I’ve known you, I never read that. I wish I’d met Jim. He always sounded like the best guy – a bit like my Bill, in a way. I’m so glad you have good memories to treasure. Hugs, and a few tears.
Thank you, Sandie. I don’t think you and I were really in touch when I was in Arizona. He died when we lived there.
What a wonderful tribute by a loving woman for a terrific life’s partner. This is so genuine and it touches my heart.
Thank you, Ann.
Thanks for posting this. I remember reading what you wrote about him when I first found the blog. It was beautiful. Sorry I didn’t get to meet him because he sounds like a great guy.
Thank you for sharing this lovely tribute. I love the story of how you met. I’m happy that you have recovered this. Treasure your memories.
Thank you, Bonnie. I’m glad I was able to recover it, too.
Lesa, I don’t think I’ve ever read such a wonderful tribute. I wish I’d known Jim better, but I always suspected he was a special man. Your love shines in your writing.
He had to be special, Marianna. Nikki loved him from the moment he picked her up. Thank you.
Sounds like a terrific man, Lesa. Sending hugs.
Thank you, Jennifer.
Lesa, I remember reading this–have I really known you (or at least followed your blog) for 13 years or more? This is such a lovely tribute. Thank you for sharing it again.
I guess you have, Margie! Thank you for reading it for all these years!
What a wonderful tribute to you husband. Thanks for reposting it.
Thank you, Jeannette.
This is really beautiful. I’m honored that you shared it with us and touched by your great love story. I am very sorry for your loss.
Thank you, Trisha.
Lesa, This is so beautiful. Like you, I also met my husband in the library. I was working at the library in my hometown and this fireman used to come into the library several times a week to use the typewriter. He had asked my manager out on a date but she got sick so they never went out. I walked up to him in the typing room a few days later asked him when he was going to take me out on a date. We went out the next week and married 4 years later and will be celebrating our 25th anniversary in April. I will be making a donation the library I work at now in memory of Jim..
Oh, Katherine! Thank you. You didn’t have to make a donation all these years later. I love your story of meeting your husband at the library. Swiped him right from under the nose of your manager, didn’t you? Love it! Good for you!
Oh, Lesa. This is lovely. ❤
Thank you, Kaye!
Lesa, I have vague memories of some of your posts when you were in Florida and quite a few of them featured Jim in some way or another…..or it could have been early in your days in Glendale as I remember pictures of him. I always thought how lucky you were that you both enjoyed reading so much & together, a perfect match. I am glad you recovered the your post, it was very special.
I’m glad I recovered it, too, Pat. Thank you!
It was so nice to hear about your husband. I’m sorry for your loss. You had a wonderful marriage with wonderful memories which is really important in life. I’m also glad you recovered the post so I could get to hear about him and how you met.
It was a good way to meet, Carol. Thank you.
Lesa, I’m so happy you are able to get your tribute to Jim back. I’m grateful Jim and I were able to reconnect back then after so many years. I miss the long conversations we used to have about all things Berlin Heights and life in general. Because of Jim I have gotten to know you and that’s a treasure to me.
Thank you, Deb. Thanks to Jim, I know a little bit more about Berlin Heights, too. I’m glad the two of you were able to reconnect, and happy I was able to get to know you through him.
What a beautiful tribute, Lesa! I’m so glad you were able to recover the post.
Thank you, Bill.
Lesa, I just saw this post tonight when I came to your blog for the Thursday post. Jim sounds like such a wonderful person, and you two seem to have been perfect for one another. I’m so sorry that your time together was cut short, though I’m so glad that you found one another and had the wonderful adventures of living in different places together. You wrote a beautiful tribute to him here, and I wish I had had the honor of meeting him.
Lesa, this was a beautiful tribute to your husband and I am glad you put it back up on the blog. I love that you shared so much related to reading and books, and that you and he were so supportive of each other.
Thank you, Tracy. I’m glad I was able to find it.