Birth date: Feb 14, 1950 Death date: May 18, 2026
It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of James M. Salem, age 76, of N. Ridgeville, Ohio, who passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on Monday, May 18, at Ames House Hospice of The Western Reserve i Read Obituary
CARED FOR BY
Bogner Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services
36625 Center Ridge Road, North Ridgeville OH 44039
Jim and I met in the late 90's when our girls--Kristen and Katie were at Catholic school together, followed by being in the Hopi tribe of Indian Princesses for about 5 years. We had 18 Dads and 20 girls in the tribe with two sets of twins. There were many great Fathers in that organization with Jim at the top. I got to know him very well during our three weekend camps each year when we would sit around the campfire and share life stories. He talked about baseball for hours. He became a brother to me.
At Camp Tippecanoe, Jim, Kristen, Katie and I took two canoes out across the lake. Katie and I got out on a big rock, and Kristen followed. Jim was in the canoe by himself, sitting on the back with the front jutting out over the water. I warned him not to do that, and sure enough, he fell in, fully clothed with a movie camera in his hand. Somehow, Jim kept his head above water with the canoe on one arm and the movie camera up in the air with the other. I had to add insult to injury and asked him if it was ok to take pictures while he was paddling with his feet. Kristen was understandably concerned but Jim made it to the rock. Amazing feat!
In 2015, he helped me in my startup company Novus Energy with getting good suppliers. In 2019, just before covid, he got me into his Saturday walking group, which I continue from time to time.
It is hard to find a better Dad, a better friend, a more thoughtful person and a smarter man. His temperance and patience in the face of adversity has been admirable and amazing. I benefited from knowing him and being his friend. I miss him sorely.
May the Salem family be blessed with what I'm sure are countless treasured memories of this great man. His values and teaching will live on through many.
My main memory of Jim, who was 10 years younger than me, is of him pitching to his dad in the back yard of their Westlake home. His Dad, my Uncle Sam, would catch for him with a glove on the opposite hand from the one with only a nub. I don’t know how he did it with Jim pitching so hard and with Uncle Sam having to constantly switch the glove off his good hand to throw the ball back to Jim for the next pitch.
I also remember him taking his family and mine sledding a few times when we visited Ohio when it snowed. He always had a great time playing with the kids on those outings.
My fondest memory of Jimmy (I always called him Jimmy )was when we were children playing at Situ and Jiddu Salem's house on Tiedeman Road, Brooklyn, Ohio. Not just climbing up the Bing cherry tree and eating cherries all afternoon or playing cards in the evening after dinner with the cousins. It was baseball with Jimmy that i remember best about him.
Jimmy loved baseball and so did I. My father Bill Salem was a very good baseball player and he loved hitting balls to us in the outfield. My dad always told me i was very good at playing baseball and i believed him. Jimmy let me know just how good i was on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. I was at bat and he pitched me his fast ball and no matter how hard i tried i could not hit the ball. If i remember correctly it was the smaller hardball not a softball. I learned that day that the people who play hardball have a much tougher ball to address with the bat and that is real baseball. Jimmy taught me that! I admired Jimmy's great ability to play the game we loved so well.
In lieu of flowers or a tree because i I love St. Jude's Childrens Research Hospital also, I will make a Memorial Donation in the name of James M. Salem.
Jim and I use to travel together on business, and as he was driving in the evening, he would always call home and talk with PJ and Christin. Ryan was at Wake Forest at the same time my son was at Georgia Tech. We would always bet $1 on which team would win a football game. No money ever changed hands so I guess we were about even. We had great and successful times together!
Jim and I use to travel together on business, and as he was driving in the evening he would always call home and talk with PJ and Christin. Ryan was at Wake Forest at the same time as my son was at Georgia Tech. We would always bet a dollar on which team won a football game. No money ever changed hands, so I guess we were about even.
Jim was a big man not only with his stature but the magnitude of his character. Jim’s integrity and generosity had a great impact on those that were lucky to have him in their lives. His big heart and charming smile elevated those around him. Our hearts break for and with PJ, family and friends. He was a grand man and will be missed greatly.♥️😔
Jim Salem was the best of us. Best athlete, teammate, friend. He could have gone professional but decided to build a family, a business, a legacy. We mourn this loss with his family, but cherish memories and the standard he set for a good life.
Lindy Gorden
WHS 68'
