Jim Steeves

Jim Steeves, age 76, passed away on September 1, 2014, comforted by family. He is survived by Carol, his wife of 42 years; daughter Suzanne Hurrey, her husband Mick and their children, Kellen 7, Beckett 4 and Remi 2; daughter Jennifer Steeves, her husband Dave Prager and their daughter Georgiana 3, all living in the San Francisco area. Jim was born on September 7, 1937, in Calais, Maine. After four years in the Navy, the words of John F. Kennedy inspired him to do more for his country: he entered the Foreign Service of the U.S. Department of State where he stayed for 28 years. Jim served his country in Germany, Senegal, England, Spain, where he met Carol, who had already embarked on her own foreign adventures. He persuaded her to marry him and they went on to serve in Ireland, Israel, South Africa and Hungary. His eyes were opened to different cultures, foreign perspectives, and superior beers. (“I never liked beer in America,” he was fond of saying, “but when I got to Germany I understood why: Budweiser? That isn’t beer.”) In 1989, the family moved to Albuquerque where they have resided until the present, except for 5 years away in Germany and California. While in Albuquerque, he became addicted to the smell of freshly roasted green chilies and a nonstop quest to find the area’s best breakfast burrito and micro-brew. In life Jim devoted himself to knowledge, to dialogue (he could coax meaningful conversation out of any passer-by) and to his passion for the rights of the little guy. Daily for the last 10 years, he curated articles and opinion pieces, and relayed them to people across the world. He also hosted a discussion group and wrote endless letters to the editor on topics he was passionate about. Near the end of a long struggle with cancer, when asked what he still wanted to do, Jim said he wanted to save the world. He wanted to inspire others to get in involved and change the world around them. When asked of his greatest pride, though, Jim named his daughters: the lives they chose to lead, the spouses they chose, and the future they’re giving their children. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to your favorite charity, or by having a conversation with a stranger that goes beyond sports and weather. A celebration of Jim’s life will take place Saturday, September 6, 2014, from 1- 4pm at the family house. FRENCH – Wyoming 7121 Wyoming Blvd. NE (505) 823-9400

Jim Steeves

September 7, 1937 - September 1, 2014