Our dear friend, Jim, left the earth on April 22nd 2021
He leaves behind many family members and countless friends who loved and treasured his wit and wisdom. He also leaves a legacy of love and generosity, healing and hope, clarity and surrender—all the markers of a mature spiritual traveler. Jim was Sage, Teacher, Scholar, Warrior, Guide, Trickster, Storyteller, Shapeshifter, Magical Child.
He broke new ground at Caroline Myss’s CMED classes by offering his rich perspectives and experiences from working with archetypes with actors like John Travolta, Willem Defoe, John Malkovich and Geena Davis. (In those days he explained them as “essences”, the fundamental uniqueness or charisma that each actor brought to each role.)
Evenings at CMED were Movie Night where Jim schooled us in what he might have called the spiritually subversive role of films in our lives. He gave us the chance to see movies as deep—often holy—stories filled with lessons and universal wisdom about our own spiritual challenges. He had a gift for seeing the mystical subtext in films, and a feel for the pulse of the changes thundering through our culture and film gave him the roadmap for understanding it himself and being able to explain it to others. A man of deep faith and devotion to God, he spread his gift of joyful perspective far and wide. If you knew him, your life was richer for it.
Farewell for now, dear friend, and many thanks for the richness your lifetime left behind for us.
with love ,
Jim’s friends Ellen and Julienne
PS: Please check back here for opportunities to celebrate Jim’s life and legacy.
Photos of Jim and his family collected from his blog posts
Me 1969, living the Bohemian life (and going to Mass every Sunday) 
At the Taj Mahal with Caroline 
In Egypt on my one and only camel ride. 
With Caroline at CMED 
The Literary Club—I’m to the right of Father Boyle; on the far right is Ralph St. Louis who got the only ‘A’ in Thomism and Modern Thought. 
I’m the one under the arrow. 
Bowling with Jim 
with Harriett 
These are my favorite pictures of my parents taken in August of 1967 at my sister Judie’s wedding reception. 
These were taken sometime in the 1950’s. To me they’ve always looked like the prototypes for the characters of Jim and Margaret Anderson in the popular TV show, Father Knows Best. 
With an intern, a CAC staff member, and my host, the woman who found the green sprig in the dump. 
Balloon stomping lady and me 
Jim Curtan 