It is with great sadness that I informed my associates and friends that “Mr. Holyoke,” Jim Curran, died on Sept. 2. (Sunday Republican, Sept. 12, page C-1) Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family. He was the owner of The Wherehouse?.
In 2000 the first Relay for Life for the American Cancer Society was formed at Holyoke by Jean Dietrich and was held at the Holyoke Community College track. Jim provided a flatbed truck for the stage.
Later, as the relay continued and increased in size, I asked Jim to build us an Olympic-style tower torch. His answer was, “No problem Ron.” When transported to the relay site area it was attached to a flatbed truck and was raised to about 25 feet high, using heavy equipment to do so. My neighbor, Roger Normand, and I rigged it up to be able to be lighted from the base of the tower on the truck to prevent Jim from his many climbs going up the tower to light it.
Jim was named honorary chairman during our annual relays. The relay ended in 2010 after 10 years of making some very generous donations to American Cancer Society. The torch remains at the Curran storage area off Lyman Street.
We now will live with memories of this great man. He was a personal friend to many of us. May you rest in peace Jim.
RONALD A. DIETRICH, Holyoke
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