Jim Roach Remembered
by Jeff
Jim Roach passed away yesterday. He was a good friend and only 50 years old. He put up a resilient fight over the past year and he’ll be missed by many in the Greensboro community.
I first met Jim during in 1995 when we were a part of the Business Pulpit Forum Work Group that met over the course of two years regarding the KMart Boycott in Greensboro. I immediately liked Jim and his personal disposition was appealing. He was young, calm, deliberative, witty, and insightful. He carried the respect of many local business leaders and he truly sought “reconciliation” between all the parties involved in that effort. Jim was a great guy to be around, a good listener, and genuinely cared about his family and community.
Over the years, Jim became a friend and I enjoyed our conversations. Jim was inspiring to me and I really appreciated him. While his father was a former Mayor, Jim was low key, never seeking attention for himself, but not afraid to become involved in things that mattered.
My thoughts and prayers go out to Mary Ben, his wife, and his children.