Condolences

• 

  09/03/2025

  Phuong le

  I met Jim for the first time when I was a third-year student at Da Nang University of Foreign Languages in 2008. My English at that time was not strong, and because of that, my confidence was low. His kindness and warm heart encouraged me to speak up. I still remember how he brought a bunch of Economist magazines and other books from America to the University to help us with reading and translating current news. He spent extra hours with us at coffee shops, helping us practice speaking. He helped me with my writing, my CV, my first job applications, and, more than anything, he became part of the key milestones in my life. He changed my life in the most positive way, and I am so proud to call him my dear American Dad and forever respected teacher. Not only me, but he also helped so many people like me in Vietnam. Each of us owes him a promise to live better and to pay his kindness forward, just like our American Dad did. Thầy Jim, Dad, rest in peace. Thank you for everything you did for me. I am so grateful to have known you.

• 

  09/02/2025

  Hong Le

  I was so lucky to have known Jim and to have lived with him for two years. Our time together was filled with nothing but beautiful memories. He was the most important person in my life, and I will miss him every single day. I will never forget the day we were walking along Sukhumvit Street in Bangkok, just talking and laughing. I looked up at the top of a few buildings with their strange, intricate designs and asked, "I wonder why they have those weird designs up there? Is that because they were tired of bringing down the leftover materials and just decided to build something with them on the rooftop?" And he laughed. He laughed so hard, and I'll never forget the sound of it. I remember laughing so hard at his jokes every time we were together. He had a way of making even the simplest moments feel special. I often wondered why he never became a stand-up comedian. He had such a wonderful gift for bringing joy to others. He also had a special way of looking at my flaws in a positive light and encouraging me. He once told me, "Don't worry too much about your height. By the time you're 40, your friends will be jealous of your young-looking." That was his way of reminding me to embrace myself just as I am. He changed my life completely, and I am so thankful for the profound impact he left on me. It hurts so much that I couldn't be there with him in the US for the last time, but I hold on to the hope that I'll see him again one day, in a better place. Then, we can walk and talk and laugh again. He was a truly special person, and we will all miss him deeply. Rest in peace, daddy!