Note from John Frey
Memory of Jim Minette

 
 

The news about the passing of Jim Minette was surprising and extremely  distressing.  I had only met Jim once last year at the annual Boron Show.  It  is usually a fun show and I try to attend when feasible with my  brother-in-law - a fellow mineral collector.

We had seen Jim's displays at the show several times and the show newsletter usually had an article about Jim describing him as a collector and dealer.  We finally got the nerve to visit Jim and were welcomed into his house by his wife Dawn.  Jim was busy cleaning minerals from a recent collecting trip so were led into see his "Collection" while waiting.  To say we were shocked and overwhelmed is an understatement and not what we were anticipated in the middle of the Mojave Desert.  Jim soon joined us pulling out miniatures out of numerous drawers along with anecdotes about many of his specimens.  His smithsonite collection was incredible.

Jim's and Dawn's hospitality and congeniality to two complete strangers was amazing.  We spent a good portion of the afternoon in Jim's garage looking at material and listening to his wonderful stories.  It was one of the better afternoons either of us has spent.  We spent all the way home talking about what a fantastic and interesting person Jim was and his collection.  I thought his garage was incredible not including the museum pieces in the house.

He will be sorely missed by all who's lives he touched even though it was extremely to short for us.

John Frey