Terrible News: Jim Blumenthal Passed Away Last Night

[Bicem]

One of my favorite people, in the hobby and out. Sad day.

[ethicsprof]

My first friend in the hobby over a decade ago will be sorely missed.
One of the truly great scholars and translators in Buddhist studies who remained my dear friend over these many years.
There are no words to express the depth of loss.
May you rest in deepest peace and bliss, Professor.

my sincerest sympathy to family,friends,colleagues,students,and many others
he has touched,

Barry

[bcornell]

I was talking to Jim once at a National and we got around to a person we knew who eagerly burns down every bridge he sees. He hesitated and said, "probably not a Buddhist", then cracked up. I use that line all the time now. I'll miss him.

Bill

[ValKehl]

I never knew or met Jim, but I have long been aware aware that he had a fabulous collection. Now, I know that Jim was even more fabulous as a human being. RIP, Jim.
Val

[jerrys]

Didn't know Jim was sick - such sad news - I believe he was only 43 or so. My condolences to his family.

[DerekMichael]

My condolences.

When I first saw this thread and the name Jim B, I was not sure if this was the person I was thinking of, but it is. This is very unfortunate and almost feels surprising.

I feel fortunate enough to have met him during the Southern California Card Show last summer. My Dad and I set up some T206 cards and when he came over to us he was so engaging. I realized he was the person who posted the epic T206 backs collection on this forum some time ago. He was very kind to my Dad and I, and so very interesting. You do not meet a Buddhist everyday. I am pretty sure he was the only guy in the room that day that had convinced a gorgeous woman to attend a baseball card show with him, but perhaps my memory is a bit sketchy in this area.

I am especially sorry for those of you who had an actual relationship with him. He seems like he would have been a very awesome, enlightening person to spend time with.

My Dads words of wisdom to me on this one: "He is a Buddhist. He is in a very good place."

I am sorry guys. Cherish the memories!

[Myachelydra]

Rest in Peace Jim.

[barrysloate]

So it's the morning after we got this terrible news and I can't get Jim's passing out of mind. He was only a casual friend, and we never met in person. But I had so much respect for him. He chose to devote his life to the study of Buddhism, and this garnered my strongest admiration. What a wonderful calling indeed.

And what an amazing collection he had. A complete N167 set- how did he do it? A T206 Wagner, a Ty Cobb back, a virtually mint E93 set? And it went on and on and on. We sometimes teased Jim about it: did the Dalai Lama collect baseball cards? Aren't Buddhists supposed to relinquish all their worldly possessions? But he was a good sport and surely recognized the humor in it.

I know very little about Buddhism, but I do know that part of its teaching is to prepare oneself for death, to recognize its inevitability and to see it as the final step of life's very long journey. I'm certain he reached this ultimate state as he took his last breath.

I truly believe he is in a better place. I only regret that I didn't get to know him a little better.

[ullmandds]

Originally Posted by barrysloate

So it's the morning after we got this terrible news and I can't get Jim's passing out of mind. He was only a casual friend, and we never met in person. But I had so much respect for him. He chose to devote his life to the study of Buddhism, and this garnered my strongest admiration. What a wonderful calling indeed.

And what an amazing collection he had. A complete N167 set- how did he do it? A T206 Wagner, a Ty Cobb back, a virtually mint E93 set? And it went on and on and on. We sometimes teased Jim about it: did the Dalai Lama collect baseball cards? Aren't Buddhists supposed to relinquish all their worldly possessions? But he was a good sport and surely recognized the humor in it.

I know very little about Buddhism, but I do know that part of its teaching is to prepare oneself for death, to recognize its inevitability and to see it as the final step of life's very long journey. I'm certain he reached this ultimate state as he took his last breath.

I truly believe he is in a better place. I only regret that I didn't get to know him a little better.

Right Barry...I totally concur. Didn't he just post his t206 back run a few weeks ago, too? What an interesting guy he was...it's been a rough few weeks stretch.

[Griffins]

Originally Posted by barrysloate

So it's the morning after we got this terrible news and I can't get Jim's passing out of mind. He was only a casual friend, and we never met in person. But I had so much respect for him. He chose to devote his life to the study of Buddhism, and this garnered my strongest admiration. What a wonderful calling indeed.

And what an amazing collection he had. A complete N167 set- how did he do it? A T206 Wagner, a Ty Cobb back, a virtually mint E93 set? And it went on and on and on. We sometimes teased Jim about it: did the Dalai Lama collect baseball cards? Aren't Buddhists supposed to relinquish all their worldly possessions? But he was a good sport and surely recognized the humor in it.

I know very little about Buddhism, but I do know that part of its teaching is to prepare oneself for death, to recognize its inevitability and to see it as the final step of life's very long journey. I'm certain he reached this ultimate state as he took his last breath.

I truly believe he is in a better place. I only regret that I didn't get to know him a little better.

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.