Thom Brennan
It’s taken some time to for me to come to terms with this news. Jim Collins was my roommate sometimes in college and for a couple of years after we both graduated. I can’t tell you how we became friends – but somehow it happened. That turned into puddle diving in Sunken Gardens, lots of Frisbee golf in the rain (sometimes from the rooftops of campus buildings….) “borrowing” golf carts, hanging out at “Be a Star Night” and way too many drinking games to remember (hey it was college in the 80’s). It’s hard to recall much of anything we did that didn’t have fun as the ultimate goal. I’m good with folks once I know them, but getting to that point was very difficult for me in college – Jim dragged me around and introduced me to lots of the people with whom I remain friends to this day. As we both moved on with our lives we fell in and out of touch, but when we talked it was picking up the conversation like it was yesterday. All of those things people say after someone is gone “he was a great guy,” “he was the nicest guy,” they are true about Jim. My prayers go out for his family and friends, may you find comfort in the memories that you share.