James Gary Jajich

James was born in Highland Park Michigan on July 21,1947, to Milo and Olga Jajich. He graduated from North Farmington High School in 1965 and Michigan State University in 1969– where he met his future wife, Margaret Helen Bolton.

In 1970 James entered the Air force in Rome, NY, as an information officer. He and Margaret lived in Rome, NY, Salt Lake City, UT, and Seattle, WA, before taking jobs at St. John’s School for Boys in Stoney Plains, Alberta, Canada, in 1973. While working at St. John’s James decided to make teaching his career. He often recounted adventures from his time in Alberta, especially an 850-mile canoe trip retracing the route of the voyagers, dog-sledding and snow-shoe treks in the Canadian Rockies.

Following the birth of their first child, Dmitri, in Edmonton in 1974, James and Margaret moved to Marquette, Michigan, where their daughter Audrey was born in 1978.

James received a M.S. and a Ed.S. from Northern Michigan University and taught in the Marquette Area Public School System from 1977 – 2012, notwithstanding a leave from 1980-1984, during which time he taught in the The Reserve Officers’ Training Corps at Northern Michigan University and the years from 1999 – 2001 when he worked for the U.S. State Department in Riga, Latvia, leading the U.S. Military Liaison Team. In 2014 James retired as a full Colonel from the Michigan National Guard.

He was a member of the Rotary Club of Marquette, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, the Michigan Democratic Party and the Board of Peter White Public Library. He served for many years on the music selection committee for Hiawatha Music Festival, sang in the Marquette Choral Society and was appointed as the first man on the Marquette Women’s Center Board of Directors in 1995. For much of his life he ran 7-10 miles a day with his long-time running partner, Don Marana.

James was known for his enthusiasm and openness and seemed to know everyone in Marquette. He never considered himself an athlete, but was an avid runner and cyclist who believed in physical fitness. He loved traveling, reading, conversations, telling stories, dressing up, teaching, Canada and the UK, recalling his time in the military, music, food, coffee, history, the outdoors, St. Paul’s Church, his dog and being with friends & family. In recent years, he spent several months a year with his children and grandchildren in Santa Fe, NM, and Cambridge, UK. Reflecting on his eventual death, James wrote that he was “comfortable with the unknown.”

James’s beloved wife Margaret, son Dmitri, daughter Audrey, two siblings Kathy and Johnny and his grandsons Frankie and Kaya– along with his extended family and friends– will miss him terribly.

A memorial service will be held for James at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church (201 East Ridge Street) at 6:30pm, with visitation just prior, on Monday, April 1, all are welcome.