Eulogy Delivered on Thursday, April 2, 1998

I speak on behalf of our family; my three sisters Marianne, Barbara, Elizabeth, and my mother.

James Arthur Saum was the greatest person we have ever known. We say this not only as a family who loved him very much, but also as friends who respected all that he was and all that he achieved in life.

Dad had a great sense of humor, sometimes his jokes made us laugh and sometimes we groaned. That humor always gave us a glimpse of him that truly was quintessential Jim Saum; an individual who truly enjoyed life and loved his family. Dad always had the ability to touch our lives in a very personal way. He took time during his busy days to discuss what was important to us, fostering a strong personal relationship with all of us, yet in different and unique ways. It was simply a joy just to be around him. I am very proud to sport his hairstyle I might add.

Dad was a very smart man, a voracious reader of just about everything. He was not afraid of knowledge, he sought it, and he passed it on. His greatest traits though were his organizational and management skills. He could break down any problem no matter how complex and explain it such a way that his outline of possible strategies made perfect sense. All of us children remember him explaining to us at an early age his philosophy of life; strive to maintain a balance, and balance is the key, between a healthy body, a discerning mind, and spiritual soul.

We all knew that when Dad was diagnosed with cancer that the road to recovery would be a difficult one, this last month has certainly reinforced that fact. His final days were gallant and heroic, and he gave us the strength to deal with it. He had a deep passion for his faith and love of God. He is with God now, there is no doubt.

Dad made living life easy, he was always there with Mom to give us kids advice and support, instilling in each of us a sense of self, purpose, and perspective. Raising children is a very difficult task, and Dad and Mom have done it the way it should be done.

Thank you!

Our whole family, from Mom through us children through his five grandchildren will miss Dad in the most profound manner, a deep, emotional, sorrowful pull on our souls. We will remember him in our thoughts daily, try to emulate his actions in our deeds, and feel blessed to have had him as a father, and for Mom, as a husband.

And we will go on.

Thanks Dad, you have made our lives worth living.

We love you!

"When a great man dies,
for years the light he
leaves behind him,
lies on the paths of men" Longfellow

We will follow our own paths now with his light showing us the way.