UPDATED AUG. 12, 7:30 P.M.:
By now, many of you are aware that Eastham historian and town miller Jim Owens passed away at his Eastham home on Aug. 2 at the age of 90.
As of Sunday, Aug. 12, no services have been scheduled.
My tribute column about Owens appears in the Aug. 10 edition of The Cape Codder. Here's a column that I wrote about Owens following an appreciation from the Eastham Historical Society in December 2016.
Jim was scheduled to present his Eastham history slide program at the Eastham Historical Society this Thursday. The program has been canceled.
In the meantime, here's some of the tributes from social media and emails that I've collected since Aug. 3:
“A kind and gentle man who had all the time in the world for you. When we were still vacationers, my young son would visit the windmill often. Jim took him under his wing, and they spent a lot of time together. When we left he gave my son a small piece of the windmill, which my son, now in his thirties, still has. He was a good man, and his death is a huge loss.”
-- Judy Gaynes Sebastian
“Jim leaves a huge void in our community, both in the knowledge he willingly shared and the love with which he shared it.”
-- Eileen Seaboldt
“A good man, an excellent artist, the last of a vanishing breed!”
— Jim Coogan
“Jim was a vital member of the (Eastham Historical) Society, having served as a past President and current Director. His generosity over the years has provided many fundraising opportunities, from his drawings, note cards, coloring books, art work for Family Trees as well as offering some of his paintings for raffles. His knowledge of all things Eastham was a huge contribution to the Society. He will be deeply missed and fondly remembered.” — Eastham Historical Society
“He was SO cool! Mr Owens and Mr. (Jack) Webster. Such were the things Eastham summers in the 1970s were made of.” — Jack Murray
“A true Renaissance man. To lose both Jim and Noel (Beyle)! They were irreplaceable.” — Mary McDermott
“He was a great Friend of the Eastham Public Library and willingly accepted the crown as King of the Turnip Festival several years ago. We will miss him greatly!” — Friends of the Eastham Library
“Such a wealth of knowledge. Such a great guy. An icon of Eastham.” — Steve Pacheco
“I had the extreme pleasure of being a co-worker for the town with James and he brought happiness, education and his personal flavor of his and my town to life everyday.” — Sandra Johnson
“Such a nice man who lovingly shared his knowledge with everyone.” — Patricia Meffen
“He was not just a teacher in school … but a teacher in life!” — Russell Campbell
“An amazing man. An Eastham legend. He has left us so much in his memory. A treasure indeed.” — Karie Millard Miller
“A really good artist and very interesting man.” — Tim Sweeney
“I am so proud to have called him my friend and my life is richer for him having been in it.” — Terri Rae Smith
“He did it his way. I still cherish my stained glass made by Jim.” — Cecilia Doyle
“I loved to listen to him tell stories. We all can continue to learn a lot from Jim. What a great life lived!” — Stacey Klimkosky
“Jim Owens was a sweet man, I remember him well from NRHS. Always hello and a smile. RIP, Mr Owens, your Nauset family will miss you as will Eastham.” — Annika Hogg Johnsson