Brothers,
I was recently notified of the death of Brother Jim Teague of Alpha Chi Chapter by lifelong friend of Jim’s Eric McHugh. Eric is a Gamma Sigma fraternity member. Mike Smallwood (Alpha Chi #206) added some details of Jim’s life. It sounds like Brother Jim was quite the character!
Here are Eric’s recollections:
“Jim Teague was a good friend of mine throughout high school. He was in Gamma Delta Psi. Jim lived the life. Bit of a nomad, but a great sailor and as I understand it, quite a yachtsman.
He was a ‘Captain’ in Europe on many famous boats, for some very rich clients. Poor health ruined all that for him. He had many issues over the latter part of his life.
Jim died (in my view) under very ‘unusual conditions’. The last I heard he was gone to Germany to marry his long time fiance. I had heard through friends he passed away in Sweden accompanied by an unknown (to us) woman. Since Jim had been estranged from his immediate family for many years, no one could get it confirmed that he had passed.
I took the initiative to contact The Canadian Consulate in Sweden. After two unanswered emails, they did respond. All they could say was that a Canadian named James Teague, of the age in question did in fact pass away in Sweden. Any other info would have to come from family. Back to Square One.
A search on Google provided very little about Jim. Everything I knew of him, came from him. I have no notes or records of his life, but boy the stories he told! Everybody deserves an obituary of some sort, even if it’s “He Died”.”
Further Details from Eric:
“Jim attended T.A. Blakelock High School in Oakville Ontario. He was on the football team and the downhill ski team. Jim was an avid sailor from very early on in life.
For the last two decades or so, Jim worked grooming ski slopes at Hidden Valley Ski Resort in Huntsville and rented a condo adjacent to the ski hill.
As his physical health deteriorated, he had to stop working and counted solely on government disability payments.
As far as his sailing career, I wish I knew more. He captained many yachts for the rich and at times, famous. As I remember, he once had ‘Bono’ of U2 fame, on one of the yachts. If I recall correctly, he sailed crossed the Atlantic Ocean at least 14 times in his life. He stayed in the Caribean many times, also as a yacht captain.
“Jim was in fact married for a short time. He married a Swiss girl he met while in Europe. Unfortunately she became very homesick and wanted to return to Switzerland. When I asked Jim why he didn’t go as well, he plainly admitted “There was no ocean”. That ended it.”
“There was no Ocean”
And lastly from Eric:
“Found a little more about Jim. The photo below is a yacht he captained while in Majorca. The photo is from a magazine while Jim raced in “The Sophia Cup” a prestigious race in Europe. The owner was Italian. Don’t know any names or how Jim’s crew placed. I remember Jim telling me the owner would be below deck constantly on his Blackberry. Jim would call him up to the wheel so the owner could steer the boat over the finishing line lol
Jim is in the bottom middle of the photo with his back to the camera.”
Gamma Xi #88
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Thanks so much for researching and sharing the story of the life of Bro. Jim Teague. It would appear that Bro. Teague was one of those rare people who discovered exactly what he wanted to do with his life and was fortunate enough to achieve and live it. May He Rest In Eternal Peace. ONCE A BROTHER – ALWAYS A BROTHER.
Great insight Mr. Howard. You hit the nail on the head with your thoughts on Jim!
This post was forwarded to me, by one of Jim’s brothers. I want to thank Mike, and Eric, and Bill, for printing something about Jim’s passing, and for me to give some sort of forum, for my impressions of my childhood with Jimmy.
I grew up with him, at the foot of Third Line by Lake Ontario – Jim’s home was literally 100 feet from Lake Ontario. We raced tricycles on the dirt track that was Third Line in the fifties. He was a mischievous little bugger, and his aunt worked for the Mattel Toy Co. – he always had the best toys, and I spent a lot of time in his basement playing with them. Jim and I, along with a couple other kids our age, epitomized the age where we wandered about the large backyards playing, until one, or another, or our Moms would bellow out ” SUPPER ” …. I’d have to characterize our childhoods as happy.
We grew apart in high school, most likely because Jim joined this fraternity and made new friends, and I did not. However, his parents, and my parents never moved, so we socialized infrequently because of the location of our homes, even long after both of us moved away. I do know that Jim cut his teeth racing “albacores” (small little sailing craft in local Lake Ontario waters) and was a good sailor. He took this passion with him into adulthood. He worked at C & C Yachts in Oakville for a time, and the last time I actually saw him, he was living on Lakeshore Rd. in Oakville, just west of Kerr St.
About two or so years ago, Jim found me on Facebook, and shared a couple of things with me- I know he wasn’t faring too well, “yeah, I’ve got the big C” he told me – he was based out of North Bay. There was indeed a falling out with his family – his mom (Jim Teague Sr. passed away probably in the early nineties) was selling the family home, and there was strife about that. If you know anything about waterfront Oakville real estate, you would understand. He sent me some links from some of his sailing successes – very impressive was his resume of sailing endeavours – and it was nice to catch up a bit with him. I think he also was thinking about his links with childhood friends, and I also believe that he knew his time left on earth was limited.
Jim’s birthday was May 10th, so he did indeed make 67 yrs old. He is survived by his Mom Betty (still alive to the best of my knowledge), sister Wendy and two younger brothers, Greg and Paul.
RIP my old friend. Childhood memories will stay with me.
Very nice words, Jim. Thanks for the added comments. I met with Jim many times over the last few years as he was in Huntsville and I was in Bracebridge. I had a beer with him in January of this year. Although he was physically challenged, his spirits and sense of humour were still intact.
Appreciate you guys sending this around. I didn’t hear from Jim this Xmas, and came across these notes. We were good friend in our high school years – I went to OTHS, and Jim was a couple years behind me if I recall correctly, but we sailed quite a bit together during those years. I remember lots of good times, and he was certainly fun to be with. He was a great soul. I don’t think I’ve seen Jim since the mid ’70’s, but we got in touch with each other four or five years ago, and since then kept in sporadic touch; I always figured that when I next got back to Ontario, he’s someone I’d look up. I had no idea he had health issues. So sorry to hear.
Hello Mark,
When I last spoke with Jim before he left for Germany, his spirits were high, as usual. I hope that helps as you remember Jim the way he was. Quite a character. He is missed.