My name is Rachel Heggie. I am one of the many people touched by Jim's work and character, and one of the many who have been saddened by his passing. I recognize that this message may seem quite delayed, but I learned the news just today, and still wanted to share my condolences. (I am located in China, where the internet is tightly regulated, so I am not able to create the account necessary to post on the forum.) I never had the opportunity to meet Jim in person, but he still had a remarkable impact on my life.
In 2019, he took interest in some of my undergraduate research posted online. I had always dreamed of putting my work in print but had never thought that I would be capable of it. I didn't feel like my very limited credentials were enough. That is until Jim reached out. He saw real potential in my work and was willing to put in the effort to help me reach the necessary standards. As a newcomer to the field, I had plenty of rookie-level questions, but Jim was patient with all of them. He became an unfailing resource, treating me with the same respect as he would a peer. Even when he faced pushback for his acceptance of my work, he stood by it.
Jim and I communicated for over a year and a half, during which he invited me to submit three different pieces of research, each of which was eventually approved for publication. In this process, he reviewed drafts, made corrections and offered guidance. He also provided additional insights for my own professional development in the field. I continue to draw on his words today. I was shocked by the news of his passing. He had made a few references to health difficulties in correspondences, but I had no idea that his condition had continued to deteriorate. It is still setting in that I will never see another piece of research from him and never have the opportunity to communicate with him again.
Although my brief interaction with Jim cannot compare to decades-long relationships that many others had the pleasure of sharing with him, I can still say that I would not be where I am today if it weren't for him. And for that, I will always be grateful.