It is with a very heavy and sad heart that I write this article in memoriam of a great Kiwanian, a great leader, a great man, a great husband, father, grandfather, but most of all a great friend.
On November 26, 2010, James F. Yochum left this earth to a much better world, and the New York District of Kiwanis and the New York District Kiwanis Foundation lost part of its heart.
Most of you know Jim as the finance chair of the District or the finance chair of the Foundation or as the 1998-99 New York District Governor leading his board of Jim's Giants to a great year in service. I was one of Jim's Giants and I can tell you that he always led by example.
Since then, through my involvement with the Foundation and especially Kamp Kiwanis, Jim and I grew to be great friends. In the last three years as President of the Foundation Jim and I would speak at least once a week and during stressful times, on a daily basis. He knew of my love for Kamp Kiwanis because he felt exactly the same and he used all of his finance knowledge and prowess to keep the Kamp financially sound. Jim held the Kamp very dear to his heart and would often get frustrated and when things didn't go just right, he would utter his favorite words, "don't they understand, it's about the children and how we improve their lives".
Jim never missed a Foundation Board Meeting no matter where it was held, he would drive from Buffalo to Staten Island for a meeting, give his financial report, which was always professionally done, and after the meeting he would get back in his car and drive back to Buffalo. I don't know how many Kiwanians would do that.
On behalf of the New York District Foundation and all its members, I would like to offer our sincerest condolences to Mary Yochum and her family and may you take solace in knowing that Jim was an honest person and a great humanitarian who always put others before himself. All of us know very well of the great sacrifices Jim made for the New York District, the New York District Kiwanis Foundation and especial for Kamp Kiwanis.
I feel very fortunate to have known Jim and to call him my good friend and at Kamp opening this year we will make certain that Jim's legacy will go on forever.
Goodbye my friend, we will miss you dearly. Until we meet again.
Column Posted on Web Site February 3, 2011
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