Our good friend and advocate, Jim Owen, passed away on Sunday, May 4. Jim was out on a road ride with friends in Corralitos, as he was wont to be, and suffered a fatal heart attack.
As ROMP’s Trail Education Coordinator, Jim was someone who wore a lot of hats, and pitched in his help everywhere. His enthusiasm for cycling had him employed part time at REI Saratoga, in addition to other employment.
Jim is survived by his college age daughter Jamie. He leaves us with a legacy of volunteerism and civic involvement to uphold. ROMP and friends remember Jim as a steadfast companion in the meeting room and on the trails. We miss him. Our condolences to all who knew him.
– Paul Nam, President ROMP
Jamie,
I’m a couple of years younger than Jim & have known him for
7-8
years. I worked with him on several advocacy efforts and went
to alot
of meetings with him over the years. Always a cheerful &
friendly
spirit, a ready laugh and a sometimes wicked sense of humor.
There’s little one can say to take away the pain & loss, but
to say I
share it with you. Jim will be missed by all who know him &
by
thousands who ride in this area & have benefited by his time
&
efforts over the years. To be remembered well is the best
epitaph &
it will be Jim’s.
Berry
Berry T Stevens Build ’em & Ride ’em
3265 Fair oaks Ave
Redwood City, CA 94063
650/364-6785
Riders,
Although I new Jim for only one year it seems our paths would
cross often,
on and off the trail.
Jim greeted me on my first ROMP ride and made me feel welcome
in the
company of strangers.
Always helpful, he would gladly assist me whenever I asked.
We shared many a hour in the most beautiful of surroundings,
meandering
through our surrounding mountains.
Fond are the memories of our after ride meals and
conversations.
Jim has a special place in my heart, as all of you who knew
him can understand.
His warm Spirt will accompany me each time I ride or help
someone along the
trail.
We lost a dear Brother on Earth, I feel his essence will
endure in the good
works we accomplish.
Rich Andrews
To all of Jim’s friends at ROMP:
Jim and Jain and I were on a loop ride Sunday morning. We
had left our
house in Aptos and planned to go out to Corralitos, up Eureka
Canyon to
Buzzard Lagoon, down Highland Way to San Jose Soquel Road and
back to our
house via Soquel Drive. We had done a nice warm-up to
Corralitos. We
stopped for a short break and started up Eureka Canyon Rd.
We were all
together for the first couple of miles of the climb and Jim
lagged back. He
was a slow climber and didn’t really stress himself in the
uphills. We had
small radios and Jain called back to him when we hit about 5
miles and he
said he was fine and that he knew where the top of the hill
was and he would
see us up there…
At about three miles from the top he apparently suffered a
massive heart
attack and we have been told he was most likely dead before
he hit the
ground. There were no signs of trauma and he was straddling
his bike and
unclipped. Someone told us there was someone immediately on
the scene and
performed CPR. A doctor arrived on scene within a couple of
minutes. The
paramedics had been only four miles away and they arrived in
response to the
911 call.
By the time Jain and I got back to him, the CHP was starting
to take down
all of the information they needed.
I have spoken to the Coroners office and they have assured me
that there
would have been nothing anyone could have done for him.
Jim was one of our closest friends and riding partner. I can
not remember a
weekend that we did not ride with him unless he was skiing.
The three of us
bought our road bikes at the same time so we would not be
without riding
when the weather was bad for mountain bike riding and we
could train better.
He was a tireless volunteer at the Sea Otter for us, every
single year that
I can remember.
We are going to miss our dear friend Jim. Jain and I are
going to make
plans to do something a little more permanent for a memorial
for him and
will let all of our friends at ROMP know what we come up
with.
Regards,
Michael & Jain
Michael & Jain Light
619 Clubhouse Drive
Aptos, CA 95003
(831) 662-9744
Jamie, I am very sorry to hear of Jim’s death. I rode with him and persuaded him to join the Santa Clara County Parks VCC. I can’t believe that he is gone. I contacted the County Parks person of this sad day. Please let me know that funeral plans, as I and ROMP, and the County would like to show our respects. If you need any help being living in FL and this being in CA, I will see what I can do. Why him? Ken
Riders,
I knew Jim Owen for a couple years, we traded barbs as freely
as someone
I’d known for decades…………
I’ll speak his name when riding on the trails we’ve shared,
he’ll still
live in my heart.
My sincere condolences to his family,
Jim S
Jim will be missed, he was someone I always enjoyed riding with and talking to.Jeff Driskell
Hi,
I don’t know if I have ever met any of you, but it warms my
heart to know he had so many great people in his life. He was
such a great man and it is a shame this world has to lose
him. It makes me happy to know that he was happy and doing what
he loved with people he loved and also loved him. i am in
florida but will be out in the next day or so and plan to spread
his ashes in the mountains , maybe on one af his favorite
trails and drink a glass of cheap trader joes red wine (that he
loved so much) with anyone who would care to join me and
share their memories of him. Paul please send this to all those
who apply, and I can be reached at 386 294 1960 or 760 809
8624. Mike light has been in contact with me and will also know
the details.
I thank you all for your love and appreciation of him
he will be greatly missed!
Thanks again,
Jamie Owen
I am in disbelief that Jim Owen is gone. He was always upbeat
and greeted
you with a smile. He would show up to meeting to give
support, voice his
opinion, and actively participate in ROMP. He would come to
meetings to
show support to keeping trails open, and even when tensions
ran high, he
was honest and didn’t back down from his position, defending
mountain
bikers access on trails.
He was a great guy, with lots of conviction for trail access
rights, and a
passion for riding. When I would go into REI, I would take a
peek in the
shop to see if he was working, to say hello. He will be
missed by many.
Indeed, this is sad news. Over the years I shared many good
rides and
good times with Jim and always enjoyed his company. With his
passing
we’ve lost a friend and a strong mtb advocate and it
disheartens me to
think Jim won’t be out on the trails with us again. I’m sure
he’ll be
missed by many folks.
Henry
The news of Jim Owen’s passing saddens me. Jim will be remembered fondly for his generosity, good humor, and disarming straight from the hip honesty of opinion. His example inspired me many times, and I am glad that I was so honored.
Sincerely,
Paul Nam
Folks,
I just received word from Bob Ward that Jim Owen suffered a
fatal heart attack
while on a road ride near Santa Cruz over the weekend.
Almost anyone who has been active with ROMP over the last
several years
undoubtedly met Jim at some point. Jim was one of the active
folks who made
ROMP the successful group it is, serving as trail education
coordinator and
leading many rides. For the last year or so, he also worked
part-time at REI,
so you may have run into him there.
In addition, he was just a great guy and a fun person to
ride, chat, or share a
beer with. He will be greatly missed.
I’ll pass along details about services as well as a memorial
ride that Bob is
putting together when I receive them.
Rod Brown
I was deeply saddened when I heard the news of my friend Jim Owens. I worked with Jim part time at REI and Jim also worked with another friend of mine at Adobe (which we both found ironic), it made us realize how small this world really is.
My friend Marty called me at 9 on Monday morning and told me the news. I was in total shock. The thing I remember most about Jim was his smile and his laughter. I remember once we were on a ride at Russian Hill and everyone was tearing through the trail but I found it more enjoyable to hang back with Jim and talk with him the whole time. We talked about many things and I will never forget it. Even though he was 25 years older then me I found in him a friend and a special bond. I enjoyed talking to him and hearing his laughter. I will miss him deeply and not a ride will go by when I don’t think about him. Goodbye my friend.
Bill L
