My most vivid memories of Jim are from an earlier, more innocent era, when we were growing up together in Brooklyn and Staten Island, and that's the way I prefer to remember Jim, for those are the memories I'll cherish the most.

I'd like to share some reflections of Jim (and what he was all about) from those "good old days"!

Perhaps the best way to describe young Jim was to say he was a lovable imp. Sure, I may have inherited our father's name, but to those who knew Dad, it was clear that Jim inherited his temperament and his personality; especially his incurable curiosity, his sense of adventure, his boundless energy and enthusiasm for life; and most of all, his warmth and friendliness!

Young Jim's antics were legend, and ranged from the cute to the "Oh, No, Not Again" variety, and constantly kept our Mom on the run. Fortunately, Mom was a saint with the patience of Job. I'm sure Jim helped Mom aspire to an even higher pedestal in Heaven. Oh sure, Aunt Anna boasts of having to cope with 9 kids, but our Mom had 4 + Jimmy, so I think it was kind of a draw. At least, that is, until the time when Jimmy and the rest of the Leddys moved in with Aunt Anna --- now Aunt Anna is fully qualified for that special high heavenly pedestal, right next to Mom's!

A typical adventure for young Jim was trying out the new red wagon he got for Christmas. Well, most of the more laid-back kids would have been perfectly satisfied to fill up the wagon with toys and wheel it around the house. But this wasn't quite what Jimmy had in mind. He wheeled the wagon through the neighborhood and didn't return until he had successfully filled it to the brim with Christmas lightbulbs, donated unknowingly by our good-natured neighbors.

But the adventurous young Jim always had a great big heart! Although I was the oldest, I learned from Jim's kindness and thoughtfulness. I can still remember-must have been 45 years ago-when Jim ran into our Dad's bedroom early one June morning all excited, and presented him with a birthday present. It was a scraggily wrapped pack of cigarettes-Lucky Strikes-but Dad was tickled pink! Here was this 5-year old tyke remembering his birthday and bringing him joy, and that was vintage Jim Leddy!

I can't help but feel that a part of me died with Jim. He was such an integral part of the Leddy family and we developed so many common interests and common bonds, sharing some great memories and some tragedies as well.

Jim was only 9 when our Father died; and in a way this forced all of us, especially the boys, closer together. Without Dad we had to rely more on each other; and Jim, Ed and I developed some common interests that led to some great times together. The highlights of the year for us were the two times each year when the Giants came to town to play a doubleheader with the Mets. At the crack of dawn, the three of us would head off with our brown bag lunches for the 2-hour subway ride to the Polo Grounds or Shea Stadium. We had to get there early enough to see Mays and McCovey take batting practice, AND we had to successfully sneak into the box seats for game #2. Jim and I also learned to play golf at the same time by climbing the fence at night and sneaking into the Dyker Beach course in Brooklyn.

Jim was a good, all-around athlete, but he may have bit off more than he could chew in the 1968 Golden Glove Boxing Championship at Madison Square Garden. Round 1 was a 3-minute highlight film, with Jimmy mercilessly pummeling his outclassed opponent. When Round 2 started, however, Jimmy just stood motionless and exhausted in the middle of the ring-he was totally spent and they stopped the fight. Afterwards, Jimmy admitted: "Well, I was really tired today because cousin Jack kept me out all night checking out all the disco joints on Staten Island. But I could hear you and Eddie screaming and yelling and rooting me on in Round 1 and that's what carried me that far."

I recall a time just after our Dad died when Jim wanted to go to the St. Patrick's Day Parade in New York City. Mom couldn't take him and he was too young to go by himself, so I took him. When we got there it was mobbed and Jim couldn't see anything. So finally we spotted a giant flowerpot in front of one of the hotels and I boosted Jim up, and from that lofty perch he could see everything. He was as happy as a lark, and I was happy to see him so happy.

I remember February, 1966, when I was visiting our gravely ill Mother at St. Vincent's Hospital, shortly before she died. On my way into the hospital, I ran into Jim who was just leaving. Jim was speechless, ashen faced, and devastated. But Jim waited downstairs for me for 2 hours, until I had finished my visit, just so he could console me and just so we could console each other. Something else happened after our Mom died. Jimmy rose up and tried to help fill the giant void by becoming mentor, protector, and big brother to his sisters Agnes and Mary-especially Mary who was the youngest. To his dying day, there was a special bond between Jim and his baby sister, and Jim held a special place in his heart for Mary, and our Mom would have been proud!

Jim was also our family historian. He was immensely proud of the Leddy family and the Leddy heritage, and his pride was contagious. I still recall how excited he was, when after much searching, he finally found the actual 1880 records of the Leddy families' immigration to the U.S. He was so enthralled that this influenced Jim and Antoinette's later visit to Ireland to learn even more about the family heritage!

But, of course, the real highlight of Jim's life was meeting Antoinette. Through thick and thin over these past 20 years, their strong bond of love always carried the day. In today's era of self-gratification and "convenience marriages," Jim and Antoinette's bond shines through as a paragon of true, lasting love; just like it's supposed to be.

Jim was not only a loving husband, but he was a proud, doting father as well. Whether it was a fishing trip to the Keys with Joey, a family cruise to the Bahamas, or a family outing to the Atlanta Olympics, Jim was always trying to make life richer, more enjoyable and more meaningful for his family.

I remember when Jim moved into his first house on Staten Island; this pretty much drained the till, BUT, with the little money he had left, he sunk it into a swimming pool so, as he told me, "My kids could have some fun this summer." That was big-hearted Jim - always thinking of others-especially his family!

Jim was forced to retire from the Fire Department job that he loved so much soon after an untimely accident about 12 years ago. But the silver lining was the additional time he has had to be closer to his family, and Jim seized the opportunity and used that time wisely!

Anytime I talked to Jim, he bubbled with pride over his family and his children's accomplishments. Jim took great pleasure from getting involved, and especially liked attending Colleen's softball games. Colleen, you've inherited many of your dad's fine traits, especially his athletic ability, but please don't even think of taking up boxing!

Jimmy, Colleen and Joey: For all of us, a part of your dad will always live on in you and through your accomplishments and endeavors!

Yes, Jim was a lovable imp, with a great big heart, just like our dad; and just like our dad, Jim left us too darn early, and just like our dad, Jim leaves behind a young, loving, grieving family. Jim's departure leaves a giant void in the Leddy/Ronaldson family. But fortunately we have the solace of remembering Jim's life; a life of giving, filled with many good memories, from many good times.

Jim, thanks for the memories, thanks for being my brother, thanks for being my friend. We're going to miss you!