James Richard Panks

Jim Panks's life began in Tacoma, Washington, and ranged the East coast to the West, from Alaska to Costa Rica, from the top of Mt. Fuji to a shipwreck on the bottom of the Caribbean. It ended peacefully and gracefully eighty-eight years later in Gig Harbor, Washington. As a boy, Jim played in Point Defiance Park, helping to feed the lions. Stadium High School saw the beginning of his long scholarly career. His curious mind thirstily explored the ideas and philosophies of the world around him. From childhood to old age, Jim’s home was filled with hundreds of books that reflected his wide-ranging interest. The family dinner table was always lively with discussions about current and historical events. Language and writing were another passion for Jim. Conversations were filled with wordplay, metaphor, and playful innuendo. He wrote stories and articles for local papers and worked as a technical editor for ARINC Research. He met and married Mary Louise MacMillan in 1950. There were wandering years that took the young family from Washington to Cuba to Virginia to Maryland to Alabama and back to Maryland, enjoying scuba diving, snorkeling, sailing, and kayaking. Jim and Mary Lou settled in Edgewater, Maryland, from the late 1960’s until they retired in the 1980’s. They enjoyed square dancing, wine making, and activities with their church. After closing out his work life at ARINC, Jim moved with Mary Lou back home to the Key Peninsula near Gig Harbor. Their home on Rocky Bay became the hub for family celebrations of birthdays and holidays. From Christmas to Easter-egg rolling contests, the family celebrated together, ate, laughed, bantered around the plates piled with home-cooked meals. Jim and Mary Lou explored the United States in a camper and on Elder Hostel trips. Costa Rica, Alaska and most of the western states saw their footsteps. Jim Panks provided a home filled with books, a table to discuss ideas around and a solid platform from which his children and grandchildren could explore their world. He was a kind and thoughtful friend, a tender and solicitous husband and a model of intellectual curiosity and intelligent engagement with the world for his daughter Kathy, his sons Rich and Chris, and grandchildren Bill, Jessie, David, Isaac and Amber. The family will be honoring Jim’s life with an open house between 1-4, Sunday Dec. 10 at Harbor Place.