James STEVENSON Obituary

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I was indeed saddened to hear of the recent death of Jim and I can only offer my sincere and heartfelt condolences to his family. Our parents were great friends and I have many fond memories of our times with the Stevensons family when we were children during the 1950s and 1960s. I recall the wonderful visits we made to the Stevenson home in Northcote, before and after the opening of the Auckland Harbour Bridge, and the trips to Waiheke Island. The trips by the vehicular ferry to Northcote before 1959 were quite memorable. Unfortunately, I rarely saw Jim in adult life and our last meeting occurred when he visited my mother at Pah Rd Cockle Bay about 11 years ago. I have attached three of the earliest photos I have in my album taken at Oneroa, Waiheke Island in the early 1950s, I believe. Jim will be sorely missed by all who knew him.

With my very best wishes
Geoff Blake

PS: I have also uploaded to Youtube two movies taken by my father in 1960 and 1961, which may be of interest-files https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dM8nVyC56RY and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DU1XhP-dKJQ

Oh, Jenny, I've been thinking of you since I heard of Jim's passing, and not known how to write to you. I always saw Jim as such a strong, kind person. His immense contribution to the performing arts always quiet and generous. After my car accident in 1996 he used his lawyer's skills to try and find recompense for me - and though that wasn't possible in the end, this selfless kindness of his helped carry me through a very hard time. I know you will be missing him dreadfully, but I would like you to know that down here in Wellington we miss Jenny Stevenson too.

Shocked and saddened to hear of Jim's passing. He and Jenny were good friends to us in Washington DC and for many years later in Wellington.

Deb and I were overcome with sadness to hear of Jim's passing. While we are so far away from NZ, we send Jenny and the family our deepest condolences and sorrow for your loss.

I have been flooded with a deep sense of loss of someone so special. Only a few months ago we held a wonderful 70th reunion with Jim and Jenny, Bert and Cheryl Hingley, Wayne and Gill Smith, Roger and Julie Munn, Pete Cleave and ourselves. As we talked it was almost as if the last half century melted away and we were back in the university café together. Jim's quiet, understated wit, wry understanding smile, and striking humour about the world around us all was in evidence throughout that long evening. What a joy it was to spend time with him then and how especially treasured those moments we all had together with him that long afternoon and evening are to us all now.

These last days I have been reliving the wonderful university years of camaraderie. Whenever I walk up Symonds Street and cross Constitution Hill, I think of Jim and the place where the old villa he lived in stood, with its foundations and walls leaning into the hill, saddened with age and neglect but enlivened by the young people who inhabited it and who brought the whole hill to life bursting with their energy, enthusiasms, and intelligence. That villa was the most brilliantly accessible and welcoming place for student visitors and the parties Jim held there. Nearby was Earle Street in Parnell, where I had the good fortune to live with Jim and Alan Brunton in a two storey villa for a month or two over the summer of 1970; and earlier the top flat of the villa in Eden Crescent where Jim lived with Bert Hingley and Pete Cleave and where many memorable evenings were spent.

What special days and years those were for us all. These and many other memories of Jim live on inside us all. What a special man he was and how fortunate I was to know him.

We send our love, thoughts and support to Jenny and family over these many miles at this time of grief and sadness.

Pete and Deb Phillips, Madison CT, USA.

So sad to hear the news, I always enjoyed catching up with Jim at family events. He made me feel so welcome when I moved to Wellington in the 90's. My thoughts are with Jenny and family.

So sorry Jim -I fly into auckland11.45 Monday but may pass your soul if you're floating up there- been remembering our days with a quirky smirk on my face- some memories and people never die- much love Jon waite

I was saddened to learn of Jim's passing. I worked with Jim in the Department of Trade and Industry many years ago, and remember his dry wit and sense of humour with much affection. My condolences to Jenny and all his family.