James Alexander McAlpine Memorial Service,
11:30 a.m. at the Chapel, Griffin Funeral Home with
Pastor Drex Morton & special music by bagpiper Donald Ross
Eulogy
James Alexander McAlpine, born October 7, 1927, was a man full of life, a man who put his heart and soul into everything he did, a man who was a constant source of stability, love and comfort to family and friends. Through work and play and hardship and illness, Jim never lost sight of what truly mattered: family, friends, laughter and love.
Born a depression-era baby, the third of 10 children, Jim was thrust into adult roles at a tender age, quickly mastering responsibility, hard work and frugality. In 1931, during the Depression, 4-year-old Jimmy, his mother and three brothers moved to Canada for five months to live at the family farm while his father stayed behind to find work. In October of that year, the family returned to Detroit for the birth of Jimmy’s sister, Anne.
The family lived in very primitive conditions… no electric lights, no indoor plumbing, no radios or televisions, no washing machine, no electric stove, no refridgerator. Jimmy learned at an early age how to work alongside his mother preparing breakfast for his younger siblings.
When he was a student at Northwestern High School, he met Marilyn and married her on December 14, 1946 while home on leave from the Navy. As newlyweds, Marilyn lived in Detroit with her mother and father while her new husband completed his tour of duty. Once a month Jim would come home to visit his bride. Early in 1948 she joined him in Washington DC, where they rented a one-bedroom apartment with a small kitchen.
Jim was discharged from the Navy on October 6, 1948. At 5 p.m. that day, Jim and Marilyn took a cab to Union Station in Washington and boarded a train. He had reserved a stateroom so they could travel in comfort with their new baby, Janet. The stateroom had two cushioned seats, a small bathroom, and room for the bassinette. The porter came in and pulled down the top and bottom sleeping berths, but Jim and Marilyn both slept on the lower bed because Marilyn was afraid they wouldn't hear Janet. They arrived at the train station in Detroit at 8 a.m., Saturday, October 7th on Jim’s 21st birthday. On Monday Jim resumed his job at Ernst Kern department store, where he worked in the display department.
Shortly after his discharge Jim received a note of thanks from President Harry Truman which said, in part: “Because you demonstrated the fortitude, resourcefulness and calm judgment necessary to carry out that task, we now look to you for leadership and example in further exalting our country in peace.”
Jim, a take-charge, responsible person, took that message to heart and stepped into leadership roles everywhere he went. He set high standards, and it came as no surprise that others looked up to him as their natural leader.
He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in January 1953 from Michigan State Normal College, now Eastern Michigan University. He became a statistical analyst for Ford Motor Company and was one of a handful chosen to work in the college graduate training program.
Ford Motor wanted him to stay on as statistical analyst, but Jim set his sights on teaching. When the placement officer from Michigan State Normal College told him of a job opening in Redford, Jim applied and was hired in the fall of ‘53. That began his lifelong career in education.
He worked at Thurston High School as a math and chemistry teacher during the school year and in whatever teaching capacity the administration requested during the summer. Jim also took on other jobs including baseball umpire, advertising sales rep, and real estate agent to provide for his family of seven.
Jim had a full home life.
He delighted in his roles as husband and life-long partner to Marilyn and missed her terribly after her passing. He found comfort in sharing stories of his early days with her, their five children, their dog Ingrid, and more friends and relatives than he could count.
Jim and Marilyn purchased their first home in 1954. That small home was always full of family and friends, and the backyard became an extension of their home with patio, grill, outdoor telephone jack and pool. They had lots of gatherings, and Jim loved to tell the story of the neighborhood kids marching to their house on hot summer days, carrying all of their pool toys. He knew the kids had outgrown the one-foot-high pool, so he turned to Marilyn and said, “We have to get a decent-sized pool for all of these kids.” With the help of his brothers, Jim dug a 5’ deep hole, installed the pool, and he and Marilyn became the heroes of the neighborhood.
Jim was known to chase his five kids around the house waving smelly Limburger cheese until Marilyn said, “Jim! Leave those kids alone.” No one wanted to see that game come to an end.
Jim loved taking his young family to the McAlpine farm in Glencoe, Canada. Every summer he gave each of his five kids a beer case to pack their clothes for two- or three-week stays. He neatly stacked the beer cases into the trunk, piled the kids and dog into the back seat, jumped into the front seat with Marilyn plus one kid, and off the family went for the long drive. He loved all the stops along the way, watching the kids run down the lane to the farmhouse, heating up the old potbelly stove, sitting around the table telling stories, driving into town, and visiting the cemetery, which is full of Scottish ancestors and a rich history. He delighted in the fact that everyone had such fond memories of the place.
Jim was a hard worker.
He always considered himself a teacher, felt he knew his trade, and felt rewarded to connect with and help students. On one occasion, a student broke his leg, so Mr. McAlpine drove over to the student’s house, delivered his homework and gave him a lesson on the material he had missed in class. This went on for eight weeks.
Another student, a 10th grader who was light years ahead of the others, had no friends because he was so bright. Mr. McAlpine observed what was happening and made it a point to speak to him every day. That student became a college professor and astro-physicist. When he found out his favorite teacher had cancer, he sent a long email telling Mr. McAlpine how important he was and how he had encouraged him at a time when it mattered.
Mr. McAlpine had that kind of impact on others.
After 14 years in teaching, Jim became assistant principal, moving between Pierce Junior High, Marshall Junior High, and Thurston High School. He never worked a day without a dress shirt, tie, suit, or slacks and a sport coat. He said his dress was like a uniform that separated him from others and was immediately recognized by the students.
While assistant principal, he continued to tutor kids in algebra, either during his lunch hour or theirs or before school at 7:30 a.m.
He would call some of the kids at 7 a.m. to wake them up to be sure they’d be in school on time.
When it was time to teach the students how to drive, Mr. McAlpine got the job, taking them to the Kroger lot and teaching them parallel parking.
As a school administrator Mr. McAlpine was responsible for the students’ well-being and discipline. He said he had an unusual relationship with students and their parents. He could kick a kid’s behind one day and have them hiding behind him for protection the next. Parents would seek his advice, and teachers would cry upon his shoulder in times of need.
Mr. McAlpine was also the transportation person, social director, and sponsor of the first graduating class of Thurston High School. As the Class of ’57 sponsor, he attended every class reunion and picnic. He was a master networker, and connecting the Class of ’57 with each other was just one example of that skill.
Jim had a mind like a steel trap and seemed to know and remember everyone. He would recognize former students that he hadn’t seen in 20 or 30 years, would remember where they sat in the classroom, and would always ask about their siblings or friends by name.
When he retired from Thurston High School after 36 years in teaching and administration, he became the announcer, scorekeeper, and timekeeper for most athletic events. That position brought great joy and meaning, and he regretted when he had to give it up due to his failing health. All told, Jim was involved in the school district for 57 years.
He loved his job and the life-long friendships he made during what he called “the golden age of education.”
Jim had a lot of interests.
He loved traveling with his wife Marilyn — to Toronto and Glencoe, Canada; to Texas, California and Nevada for 20 years; to the Bahamas and Spain; to New Orleans, northern Michigan and northern Wisconsin; plus a lot of regional trips.
He loved music, knew all the big bands and was a great dancer.
He loved a crowd and could party into the wee hours.
He was really good at trivia, Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune.
He was an avid newspaper reader and always up on current events.
He was a darn good cook and loved entertaining or taking others out to dinner.
He bought lottery tickets every week and promised to send the cashier back to India when he won.
He was a superb organizer and patriarch of the McAlpine Clan, making sure that bi-yearly reunions were planned well in advance and that everyone felt welcome at family gatherings.
In his waning days he told his son-in-law that he wouldn’t change one thing about his life; that the lumps were part of the living and learning, that his life was full of meaning and joy.
James Alexander McAlpine.
A true teacher, he will always be remembered for the final lesson he shared: how to live with integrity and how to die with dignity and grace.
Godspeed dear friend, mentor, hero. You'll live in my heart forever, Dad.
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