A memorial service for Jimm Edgar, who passed away on July 14, 2021, will be held on Monday, August 30, at 1 pm, at First Pres. Click here to RSVP.

Click here to go to the livestream service. In-person attendance is limited to 150 people.

Jimm Edgar, longtime MDAS leader, passed away peacefully on July 14th in Alabama with his wife Bettie by his side.

Jimm served as MDAS president multiple times during his long tenure with the Chapter. Most recently, he was president from 2005 -2016. At general meetings, his easy manner, engaging smile and humorous style made audience members feel welcomed and appreciated. He loved to tell stories about birds, often repeating his favorites. One of his most beloved birds was the Harlequin Duck and he seemed to thrill at explaining the meaning of Histrionicus histrionicus. Personally, I believe I heard the story at least three times during our travels together. At the meetings, if someone shared a very notable bird sighting, Jimm would often respond, “Oh, is that right,” lending even more significance to the report.

Jimm annually led field trips for MDAS. His favorite outing was to his beloved Mt. Diablo where he emphasized the beauty of the wildflowers as well the variety of birds.

Clearly, Jimm loved birds and birding, and he was especially devoted to organizing and coordinating the MDAS Christmas Bird Counts. After the CBCs, it was always a fun event to compile all of the groups’ sightings over dinner. Jimm obviously took much satisfaction and pride in hosting these events. Beyond MDAS, he volunteered to do counts for several other Chapters as well.

At the June, 2017, MDAS General Meeting, Jimm was presented with the National Audubon Society’s Great Egret Award for his significant long-term contributions to Audubon. Shortly thereafter, Jimm moved to Alabama. Jimm will be long-remembered and dearly missed.

There will be a Celebration of Jimm’s life at his home church – the First Presbyterian Church in Berkeley on his actual birthday August 30th 2021, at 1PM PST. Reception to follow. The Celebration for Jimm’s life will be live-streamed. As a teenager, Jimm met Christ through Young Life Ministries and his Young Life leader, Spokane resident Dick Silk, who was his mentor and lifelong friend. In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to Young Life Jimm Edgar Memorial Fund, 420 N. Cascade Ave., Colorado Springs, CO 80903.

-Paul Schorr