James Clark Peters Obituary (1953 - 2024)

Harry Jacobson '71 posted a photo:

So sorry to learn of Jame's passing, Suzanne. Please accept my most heartfelt condolences. We lived just down the hill (on Greeley Blvd.) from your family, and fondly remember our early days there. James and I attended West Springfield Elementary and West Springfield HS together. We reconnected at the WSHS 10th reunion. He last communicated with me in 2021, when he sent along a photo of our elementary school class (c.1964). His farewell to all of us proves he was a class act. We lived through good years, in a good community that gave us wonderful friendships that will live forever in our hearts.
Regards,
Harry G. Jacobson

Suzanne Peters '74 posted a photo:

My name is Suzanne Peters, class of 1974. My dearest brother James was diagnosed with a glioblastoma, the most aggressive brain tumor you can have in Feb of 2023. We were lucky that he lived until April 2024. Our father had died with no notice of a brain aneurysm in 1974 and one of our regrets was not being able to have final time to talk with him. With that in mind James would call me at least once a day and sometimes 4 times a day to talk about anything and everything. I cherish that time and those calls. He called me 3 days before he died to tell me he loved me and that there was nothing I had ever done to him to be sorry for. My brother lived a full life traveling to many many countries both for work and for pleasure. He enjoyed trying new foods and drinking good wine. He married late in life to a Taiwanese woman named Grace and they had a son named J of whom he was so proud. My brother had many friends who came to see him and it was one of the things he was surprised about and reflected on was that while he did not want to die he was happy to learn how many people had been touched by interaction with him. James continued to travel even when he was sick attending our mother's 95th birthday party. When my brother started to get so sick he could no longer travel we would travel to see him often and this photo is from our last visit when he asked me to bring him some special Purim cookies and a grande latte from Starbucks. Even though we talked everyday I think now of so many things I want to tell him and it makes me cry. This is one of the last things he dictated to me to post for him:
"As I move closer to the darkness I want to take a moment to thank the friends and family who have supported me with love during my struggle. Your support has been a huge help in maintaining my strength and positive attitude. I would also like to apologize to anyone that I I slighted in my life. I want to thank my hard working wife and son who have tirelessly helped me daily, I am going to miss my sister, brother and mother as well as all of my family scattered around the US. I have lived a great life and leave with few regrets.
Much love to all, James Peters"

Catherine Catherine Denell Volz '70 said:

So sad