Willow Glen Resident
News
Community gathers to celebrate the life of historian Jim Arbuckle
By Mayra Flores De Marcotte
More than 100 people gathered on Oct. 4 to celebrate a Willow Glen man with a multifaceted life--Jim Arbuckle.
"He was a quiet man," said Santa Clara Superior Court Judge and San Jose historian Paul Bernal at the memorial. "He didn't like to talk or share his own opinions."
Bernal paused, giving those in attendance a chance to laugh.
"But let's talk about the real Jim Arbuckle," he said.
Bernal, San Jose's second official historian, set the tone for Arbuckle's memorial with his humorous introduction. The atmosphere continued in the spirit of celebration and of closure.
Arbuckle, 72, died while riding his bicycle on July 7, leaving the community in shock.
The event was put together by an array of local groups Arbuckle was involved with--History San Jose, The California Pioneers of Santa Clara County, The Ancient and Honorable Order of E Clampus Vitus Mountain Charlie Chapter No. 1850, Friends of the Winemakers, Preservation Action Council of San Jose, the Willow Glen Neighborhood Association and the Willow Glen Beautification Committee.
"The event was lighthearted and fun," said Willow Glen Beautification Committee chairman Marv Bamburg. "Jim's personality came out through everyone, and it gave us some closure we all needed."
The event was held at San Jose History Park and had both planned and spontaneous speakers sharing stories and memories of Arbuckle. Attendees brought dishes and talked about the various interests Arbuckle had shared with them.
"Everybody knew Jim from a different standpoint," said Friends of the Winemakers president Bonnie Bamburg. "We all enjoyed working with him and knowing him."
Along with the memorial, History San Jose unveiled the dedication of a portion of the historical collection after the Arbuckle family.
"It was a wonderful, fitting tribute to Jim," said California Pioneers of Santa Clara County president Jim Zetterquist. "It was an opportunity for the community to express their fondness for him."
A Willow Glen resident, Zetterquist had worked with Arbuckle on the recently published Touring Willow Glen: 10 Walking Tours. The book was dedicated to Arbuckle's memory.
"Jim not only continued his family's legacy, but also wrote a few new chapters himself," Zetterquist said.
Arbuckle's involvement in the various groups will be missed, said Bamburg.
"When Jim said something was to be done, he did it," Bamburg said. "He did it extremely well and had a huge capacity, and now we're all feeling this hole. He was involved in so many things."
Bamburg said she still expects Arbuckle to be there when she turns the corner at her favorite symphony.
"It was just such a shock to learn that he's no longer here," she said.
Bamburg, however, is comforted to know that he probably knew the impact he had.
"You always wonder when someone dies, did they receive the recognition that they were doing a good job before they were gone?" she said. "After hearing everyone at this event, I had a sense that it had happened, that he knew."
