James "Jim" Suchan

Jim and I first met in high school (the old Hill High School, run by the Christian Brothers) in ’59/’60. We also by chance got a job in the grocery dept. of the new Shopper’s City that opened in Maplewood, in the early ’60s. Also working there at the time was Connie, who was working as a grocery cashier, and Jim’s sister Pat, who worked at the Courtesy Counter. Two of our more memorable adventure were: 1.) Our road trip to Calif. in the 60s. Connie had gotten an internship at a hospital out there, and Jim wanted to go visit. As we were given only a few days off of work, we had to drive straight thru. stopping only to sleep a sleep a couple of hours in the car, when neither of us could keep our eyes open. Once there a plan was hatched to help keep our expenses down. With the Connie’s “OK” and that of her two roommates, Jim and I could back to their dorm room after hours and sleep on the floor of their room. That worked good for the first night, only to wake up to find out that we had been busted. Hospital admin asked us to find some other place to flop while we were visiting in Calif. A nurse there at the hospital learned of our plight and offered us the use of her spare bedroom in her house in exchange for doing some yard work. We would get up in the morning, spend some time working in the yard. In the afternoon, we would find our way to a local whiskey a go-go (they were just then becoming popular). Have a “couple” of beers, and then head back to the hospital to be there when Connie got off work. Our 2nd memorable adventure was the day we took Connie and one of her roommates across the border to Tijuana, sightseeing. No problem getting into Mexico, it was getting back into the Us. 2 “seedy” characters like Jim and myself traveling with 2 attractive young ladies caused the border guards all kinds of questions and concerns. We made back. In spite of the “adventures”, I was honored when Jim and Connie asked me to be in their wedding. When Jim left Sopper’s City to begin his auto body training and career, and I left Sopper’s as I had been drafted upon graduating from college, we lost touch with each for large number of years. Something I now look back with huge regret. That changed about 4-5 years ago when Hill High School class of ’62 & ’63 had their most recent class reunion. We hooked up and spent some time that evening reminiscing over our past adventures. We also talked about see if we and our wives might be able to get together soon, as we now knew where each other lived. Jim and Pat in Duluth and me and wife Pat in Oakdale. Not too far from our old alma mater and our former employer (Shopper’s City) now a mega church. But fate dealt another cruel and hand, we ran out time. I know Jim is up there in Heaven driving around in a brand-new shiny red Corvette. And I have my memories of these and other of our adventures to keep me remembering Jim. REST IN PEACE JIM, from your old friend and traveling companion. Joe Morrisette