A few times a year Jim would come into town to visit his parents, and he, Jason Miller and I would usually get together for cigars at a friends lounge and end up spending 4-6 hours just sitting and talking. It's something I always looked forward to, and I've been thinking about those times over the last day absolutely devastated by the recent turn of events.
Jim was probably the most centered person I've ever met, and I have no doubt he is at peace. When I spoke to his wife Tiffany Tuesday nite they both seemed very calm, and it was obvious that Jim remained centered and dignified to the very end.
I once asked Jim how he reconciled Buddhism with the materialism of collecting cards and he just laughed and said Buddha wants us to be happy, and cards made him happy. That was evident as the completion of his N167 set unfolded over the last 2 years. The research, location, and acquisition of the last 2-3 cards in this set was an incredible story and achievement, and each time we got together Jim would wait til just the right moment to catch me up on the latest chapter.
Speaking to Jim a few months ago it was clear that he viewed the journey as the reward, and he was already planning the next one. He always said paradise is just like the place you are now, only much much better. I'm sure he's there, with that ever present smile on his face.

Oh man, such sad news. When I think of Jim I picture that big smile of his. Every time I saw and spoke with Jim that bigger than life smile was present and it was usually over a just purchased piece of cardboard at the National. He was always very humble, very pleasant and just an all around great person. This world will surely miss him and I am sure his loved ones miss him dearly. My pray for comfort and peace got out to them. We will miss you Jim.

Re: Jim B
 

I'm heartbroken. I always looked forward to sharing a meal with Jim at the National. One of the kindest and most serene people I've ever known. I will not forget the time he helped one of my daughters with a high school project on eastern religions. Rest in Peace, Jim.

Anthony, Thanks for sharing. I'm pretty beat up about this. It's never easy losing a person like Jim but he is at peace now and thankfully suffers no more.
He will be missed.

This
 

Truly sucks.

I can still picture seeing JIM B and that thought makes me smile.

But I'm tired of losing my friends and acquaintences and to bring up a point, we all need to whenever possible go out to shows and stores. Not always to buy but so we can build our interpersonal relationships with each other.

RIP Jim B, who helped show us the way

Rich, you are so right. I'm very glad that I was at Chicago last year and got to talk with Jim some. He shared an insight via some Sanskrit, which I still have somewhere. Remarkable guy.

Shocked and saddened. A first ballot Net54 HOFer for sure.

RIP Jim B.

Sad news to hear. I never met Jim, but what I've read and heard about him, he must have been a really good guy.

My condolences to his family.


Jantz

had a lump in my throat
 

J,

I just wanted to say that this was very well said, and a very touching tribute relating to your Mom.

thanks for posting this.

Saddened to see another go.
 

Very Saddened to hear another GREAT person and Net 54er go in Jim. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and all of those who were very close to him including many of you guys on the board. I always enjoyed seeing and reading his contributions to our hobby. May he rest in peace.
Tim Kindler

this is such horrible news
 

My buddy and I had the pleasure of sitting at the same table as jim at the psa set registry luncheon at the 2008 national in chicago; i was sitting next to jim and struck up a nice conversation with him prior to the presentation of the awards and I had no idea he would be winning an award until joe o called his name and he left the table to accept his award; when he returned to the table I felt honored to be at the same table as someone who won an award (and not just any mundane award but rather the award for best pre-war set; certainly nothing to sneeze at!!!!). I immediately congratulated him and asked if I could see his plaque as i know i'll probably never be lucky enough to receive one. I must admit, I'm more of a post-war guy although I do dabble in pre-war on occasion so I didnt know much about the E93's at the time but when I looked up his set on the registry later that day I was truly in awe of its magnificence. The three of us chatted for a bit after the luncheon concluded and I found jim to be a warm, affable guy who, like us, was so passionate about this great hobby. We exhanged a few emails a week or two after the show and then lost touch but I ran into him again, albeit briefly, at the national in chicago in 2013 when he happened to walk up next to me at a table I was at perusing cards. I said "hey, remember me?!?!?!" and reminded him we shared a table at the psa luncheon five years earlier. Upon hearing this he immediately remembered who I was and we spoke for a minute or two; I remember reading a post of his maybe a few months back (perhaps prior to this year's national??) where he mentioned he was having health issues; as soon as I saw this thread a few minutes ago I was devastated and got sick to my stomach. Just horrible, horrible news. My deepest condolences to his family; may he rest in peace. I will never forget him.

I wish I'd known Jim, because in reading what everybody else has been sharing, it seems like he was a pretty amazing person. My thoughts are with his friends and family.

Words can't express just how sad and heartbroken I am right now. Jim was such a loving soul and dear friend. I'm so thankful I was able to meet him at the Net54 dinner in 2006 in Anaheim. We shared many a correspondence from 2006-07, most of which I still have. We talked about his Wagner, Cobb backs, E93's and his now legendary N167 set. In fact, I just recently bought and read his amazing N167 OC article. He also shared what an amazing experience it was becoming a dad.

Jim, I will always cherish your friendship. My heart goes out to you and your family. RIP.

Josh

I've done trades/sales with both Jim and Anthony S. Such a sad week. Both way too young. Picked up my first T206 Uzit last week via Goodwin. Vic Willis. Needless to say - I thought of Jim when bidding. Now it means just a little more. His back run and 'backs run' are a thing of beauty.

Jim was one of a kind and I am going to miss him greatly. I am going to try and remember that twinkle in his eye whenever he smiled but right now I am just sad thinking about him.

JimB, I miss you already.

You welcomed my "off the cuff" invite to meet a stranger in person when I moved to the Portland area in 2006.

I was here without my family before my house sold for 9 months, and didn't have my card collection with me for most of that time.
I was reading Net54 nightly, pining for either a card show or some interaction with the hobby I have been ensconced in since 1970.

I noticed JimB's humble posts , amazing collection and the manner in which he carried himself on the board (when there was pretty regular drama and testosterone contests abound).

I thought, why not contact him to see if he would meet for coffee and talk cards (and Net54).
We did just that, at Starbucks...a couple (then) 40 ish guys playing show and tell with antique cardboard.
Jim was gracious as I showed my very proud but very pedestrian pile of cards over a latte.
Then Jim walked to his car and retrieved a small box with the best baseball cards I had ever seen before (and likely since)
Jim had a collection far above most, a Hall of Fame collector with cartons of Hall of Fame cards.

But then we put the cards away and talked. That's where Jim went to first ballot HOF status. He made me feel like a longtime friend. He was open, informative, caring and just damn cool. I knew he would be from reading his posts here, but this was a special treat.
The 90 minutes w/Jim was a small slice of time in comparison.
But it's a great feeling when you make a new friend (think about that).
I wish we had stayed in touch more regularly. Sure we shared a few emails over the years...congrats on the beautiful baby, nice cards, promises to revisit Starbucks together...and now that's impossible.

JimB, you are awesome and you are missed. All who knew you were touched by your warmth and class. Eternal blessings and happiness for you my friend!

Wow,...
 

I am not sure what to say, especially in light of everything that has already been said. I don't post here much these days, but when I first came aboard, JimB was one of the first personalities that I gravitated to...
Right from the start, he just seemed like one of the good ones.

I hope he is in a better place and that he didn't have to suffer through too much pain to get there. He certainly didn't seem like the type of guy who would have deserved that...

As an aside, it is so cool to read all of the familiar names on this thread, saying such wonderful things...this place is such a great escape.

Memorial Page
 

http://jim.blumenthal.muchloved.com/frame.aspx

Here is Jim's memorial page for those who are interested.

To see the picture of Jim with his young son is painful.

A true gentleman and gentle man. It's been hard to function this past week. I haven't been able to stop thinking about how incredibly sad it is that his son will only know how kind and loving his father was from second hand stories. What a profound loss for so many.

-Ryan

Its too soon to let this thread drop to the 2nd page.

I remember when Ben learned to ride his bike, and how proud that made Jim...

I agree Brian. Jim was such a kind and gentle person it is tragically sad. I have told several people, and I firmly believe it, Jim might have been the kindest and nicest person I have ever known. I have had tears in my eyes thinking of him more than a few times the past several days. I am really saddened about his passing. I am lucky to have known him I just wish I had known him even better. Jim was the kind of guy that made yourself a better person by just being around him. That statement can't be said about too many people.

well said Leon.

one of the reasons i stay away, this is just very depressing news from the hobby. i've known jim since his e93s were only psa5s/6s and being a caramel collector we were going back and forth and how excited he was to show me the t206 wagner he got from SCP that costs about a bmw sedan. i introduced him to a cool prewar board started by elliot and i'm glad he's touched so many people since...he's the true embodiment of what an enlightened buddhist is.

Maybe we should never let this thread die, like an eternal candle.

Barry, it wouldn't be a bad thing. Jim was one of those people who left a lasting positive impression on almost anyone he interacted with.

I havent been on the board much lately and happened to check in today. This is truly sad news. Jim's E93 collection was inspiring and led me to put together a set of my own several years ago. RIP Jim.

I never knew Jim, never heard of him, and never saw his collection. HOWEVER, to be remembered with such positivity by so many people, with so many kind words, and to have touched the lives of so many people/friends, is a true testament to his character. The ultimate compliment, in death, is to be remembered much this same way. It would be nice if somehow someone down the line could show this to his wife and family.

His wife is aware of the multiple hobby tributes, and is sharing with his son and family.

I added a bit about Jim
 

to my latest column

http://www.sportscollectorsdaily.com...issing-friend/

Very sad, it was always enjoyable to run across Jim at the Nationals.

Lee

Rich that was well done.
I think about Jim constantly and at 47 its just not fair.
Leaving a new bride and a young son behind.

I don't know too many people who have had such a profound influence on so many.

Not a single person had a bad thing to say about our friend Jimmy B. Not one.

I think that is a testament to how our Buddhist professor lived his life, and I should be so lucky that just a bit of that rubbed off on me. I miss my dear friend....

Nicely done, Rich. Jim will be missed by a great many people.

I'm a guy that never forgets the limited time I have. I enjoy every minute with my son. Jim's passing has touched me in many ways but especially when I look at my son. An extra hug and sweet smile for him, an extra moment of thought and an extra moment of gratitude for everything in my life.

Thank you, Jim.

. I did not Jim but received this from the College Jim taught at and thought I should share it.

Yangsi Rinpoche & the Maitripa Family Invite you to share


in Remembrance of

Dr. James Blumenthal

(August 12, 1967 - October 8, 2014)


A Celebration of Life


Jim greets His Holiness the Dalai Lama upon his arrival in Portland,May 2013.

A Celebration of Life in Remembrance of Jim

DATE: Sunday, October 26, 2014

TIME: 1:30pm

LOCATION: World Forestry Center,

4033 SW Canyon Rd. Portland 97221




In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made Maitripa College. You can make your donation and elect to "Leave a message" here.

All donations and messages will be conveyed to the family.




.

So very sorry to hear of his passing. RIP, Jim.

terrible news:Jim Blumenthal passed away last night
 

I loved Jim Blumenthal, he was a great guy. I only wish I had spent more time with him on the few occasions when we were together. Very sad, I will miss him but I will think of him often

Sad to hear he passed away. My condolences to his family.

such a sweet man
 

Jim was always smiling when I saw him; I didn't know that much about his interest in Buddhism but it makes sense- he seemed to have an inner peace about him that made everyone happier when he was around. People tend to say nice things about those who pass away, but the tributes in this thread testify to what an extraordinary fellow Jim was - like all those who have posted above, I will miss him greatly.

Tim

This is terrible news, I didn't know Jim personally but I admired his evenness on the board. I also admired his taste in cards, and how humble he was owning cards like the Ty Cobb with the Ty Cobb back. And a Wagner. Amongst many other mind blowing cards. I will miss his presence on the board, and my condolences to all of his family, friends, and students.

Sincerely, Clayton

remembering Jim today. We miss you, bud.

Indeed.

Thoughts from the East Coast.

-Al

I have thought about him at least each day, usually more than once, since he passed away. I will miss him (as many will).