| This is the remembrances I delivered as part of the funeral service for Jim Worthington at Fort Meyer´s Old Post Chapel on January 11, 2007. A second, longer version, is attached that contains more detail. BRM |
| Good afternoon: Kitty, members of the Worthington and Sibold families, friends of Jim Worthington - My name is Brian McEnany. I had the good fortune to know Jim Worthington for close to fifty years. |
| James Martin Worthington -- AKA the Red One - - was a Star man at West Point - a decorated Army officer - a defense analyst in later life - a triathlete - and a sincere, loving and gracious person throughout his life. |
| He was an exemplary cadet at West Point: Jim was an Army brat when he came to West Point in July 1958 -- If you look in Cullum´s Register - you will see a little helmet next to his name - that´s because he comes from a long line of West Pointers - his grandfather, Class of 1898, and his father, Class of 1935. Listening to his nephews and nieces at a private memorial last November, I found out that Jim was somewhat of a character in High School --- We found him a bit different at West Point - very quiet, shy, unassuming - and very studious. |
| He received his share of demerits and walked a few hours on the area -- Tales about Jim at West Point mostly began our second year at the Point when Jim roomed with Charlie Murray and Jim Heldman. Jim could read a lesson quickly, do the problems, help Jim and Charlie if he could - then jump into bed, pull his brown boy over him and go to sleep while Charlie and Jim toiled away - We often suffer at the hands of our classmates and Jim was no exception - They decided to "help Jim out" prior to his math test by removing the center line on his slide rule - or the time they filled his desk drawer with water balloons- or put a postage stamp over one of his eye glass lenses or changed his nametag to read "PRESLEY, E" . |
| Most of the overt harassment ended when Dick, Jim and I roomed together the next two years. except for Jim´s musical selections -- he played the same record on his phonograph after reveille every morning during our First Class Year until graduation - even today I can´t stand listening to the music of Camelot. |
| At graduation in June of 1962, Jim graduated 43rd in our class and got a chance to shake hands with JFK -- then off to begin his career as an Army officer. |
| He was a dedicated Army officer: If you can recall watching JFK land in Berlin in 1963 to give his famous speech at the Brandenburg Gate, Lt. Jim´s battery fired the salute, honoring the President. |
| After Vietnam broke out-- Capt Jim joined the 173rd Airborne Brigade in Germany and served two tours in RVN 66, and 68-69. and wore a set of well-earned medals -- Three awards of the Bronze Star and two awards of the Air Medal as well as a gold star on his jump wings. |
| The Army sent him to Stanford for two years in 1969 - right in the middle of all the anti-war protests - and one afternoon his temper got the better of him when one hippy professor tried to keep him from attending classes. |
| Later at West Point, Major Jim was creative in keeping cadets awake in his math classes-- he´d walk up behind a cadet who was dozing and in a very firm voice - announce "Mr. Smith - please go to the board and prove A = B." |
| Defense Analyst: When he and the Army parted ways in 1974, he finished an MBA at the University of Chicago and then took a job with PAE (Programs Analysis and Evaluation) in the Pentagon. We crossed paths there often - I worked in Army PAE and kept trying to keep his office from taking money away from the Army and he kept trying to make sure we spent what we were given wisely. |
| Four Administrations later, he went to work for the Institute for Defense Analyses in Alexandria where he taught seminars in many East European countries seeking entry into NATO. Oh, by the way, in his spare time, he volunteered as a math tutor at T. C. Williams High School in Alexandria. |
| He loved cars and sports: Whether it was his red Corvette or the gold RX-7 that he loved, or "no holds barred" basketball at Stamford, Jim always got deeply involved with whatever he was doing. |
| He found Triathlons exciting in the early 1980´s -- and he did well, competing in local races, often placing in the top of his age group even running in marathons. His friends tell stories about Jim´s fascination with new technology - he always had to have the latest wet-suit, the newest type of bike tire, or a better wrist watch with all the latest functions. |
| He really liked biking and his vacations took the form of cycling trips with a special group of friends to Ireland, Italy, Germany, England - Most importantly, it was on one of those trips in 1993 that he met Kitty Sibold. The two of them found they liked biking and best of all, they liked each other -- a proposal just before Christmas in 1996, and in 1997, we watched the Red One walk down the isle in a nearby church with the love of his life. |
| He was a devoted family man and husband: Jim always took time for family events - never missed a birthday - always sent cards or stopped by to see a nephew or niece. He regularly checked up all his nephews and nieces, my daughters included, dispensing advice whether they needed it or not. When little ones began appearing in the family - there was Jim helping out - baby sitting with Kitty´s mom, changing diapers, walking with a burp cloth over his shoulder. Right up until the last, Jim asked how plans for my daughter Kathy´s reception were going. |
| Final Remembrances: It is hard to sum up a person´s life in just a few words -- and I know that I have not done him justice today -- One of his nephews mentioned that he felt that Jim embodied much of the West Point code of Duty, Honor, Country throughout his life, and he always put family in its rightful place at the head of the list. I know that he faced serious issues during his career and when those times occurred, just as the Cadet Prayer states, he always chose the "harder right, instead of the easier wrong" -- |
| I would sincerely hope that LTC (retired) James Martin Worthington be remembered as a loving husband, a patriot, and, truly, -- a kind and gentle man in every sense of the word. |
| Now, he has gone on to a better place and I am sure he is watching over us today -- just as I am sure that he is trying to figure out a way to make his angel wings go faster! |
| Kitty and both families want to thank all their friends for the help, prayers, and assistance and Chuck Poor for his fine craftsmanship. Her heartfelt thanks are sent out to each and every one of you for supporting she and Jim. |
| It seems fitting to end this remembrance with some words from the Alma Mater: |
Our course on earth is run May it be said, "Well Done" Be thou at peace... |
| Jim, your family, your friends, your brothers-in-arms from West Point, all of us gathered here today in celebration of your life, most gratefully say … "Well Done" -- we shall miss you….! |
| This is a longer version of the remembrances given at the Old Post Chapel on January 11, 2007. I received a bit more information from classmates and friends about Jim that I did not have enough time to deliver as part of the service. |
| Good afternoon - My name is Brian McEnany. I had the good fortune to know Jim Worthington for close to fifty years. He and I and Dick Stephenson from Kentucky were roommates at West Point for three of the four years we spent there. Some of what I have to say today is BK -- Before Kitty - So, in the tradition of Irish seanachies, let me spin a few tales about his life that you might not have know about... |
| He was an exemplary cadet at West Point: James Martin Worthington -- AKA the Red One - the Red-headed peckerwood - was a Star man at West Point - a defense analyst in later life - a triathlete - a sincere, loving and gracious person throughout his life. He came to West Point from a military family. If you look in Cullum´s Register - you will see a little helmet next to his name - that´s because he comes from a long line of West Pointers - his grandfather, James B. Gowen, West Point Class of 1898, and his father, James M. Worthington, West Point Class of 1935. He received a Presidential appointment to West Point and on the 1st of July, 1958, walked into Central Area with his bags where he was met cordially by an upper class cadet who guided him toward the man in the red sash to begin his career as a cadet. |
| Dick Stephenson, Jim and myself roomed together right after Beast Barracks. Listening to his nephews and nieces at a private memorial last November, I found out that Jim was somewhat of a character in High School --- We found him a bit different at West Point - very quiet, shy, unassuming - and very studious. |
| He received his share of demerits and walked a few hours on the area. A few tales about Jim began during plebe Christmas our first year. We plebes stayed at West Point while the upper classes went home. We ran the place - sort of - and we had fun. One afternoon, our window was pushed down from the room above - Tony Latham hung down by his legs by his roommates in the room above, tossed water on Jim. That started multiple water fights - waste paper baskets filled with water tipped against your door - |
| Our Yearling year (and now they are called Yuc´s), the upper class for some unknown reason, came to believe that the Class of 1962 in H-2 obviously did not have a plebe year. Not that we hadn´t done anything that would lead them to that conclusion, of course! Consequently, we were all split up and sent to different rooms - and therein lies a few more tales about Jim -- |
| For most of that year, Jim roomed with Charlie Murray and Jim Heldman who both owe much to his academic prowess in getting them through most subjects -- But, as the stories are told, and they do get embellished over time -- Jim would read the lesson quickly, do the problems, then jump into bed, pull his brown boy over him and go to sleep while Charlie and Jim toiled away - Well, we often suffered at the hands of our classmates and Jim was no exception - They decided to "help Jim out" prior to his math test by removing the center line on his slide rule - or the time they filled his desk drawer with water balloons- or put a postage stamp over one of his eye glass lenses or changed his nametag to read "PRESLEY, E" . |
| Jim could be stubborn when he wanted to. In the mess hall one day, he took the only remaining Cheerios box on the table and was told to hand it over by a First Classman. Jim said he had it first. The Firstie reminded him that he was a first classman and Jim was a yearling. Without another word, Jim opened up the box, poured milk on it, and began to eat it all the while maintaining eye contact with the Firstie who was going nuts at the end of the table. |
| We became the adopted nephews of the late historian, Mary Betty Sergent, my aunt, who introduced the three of us to the Civil War. Jim and Dick and I were the first of five sets of adopted nephews that stretched over a period of twenty years and five classes at West Point. We took many trips to the West Point cemetery where she regaled us with stories about almost everyone there. |
| Jim and I and Dick lived in the old North Barracks our last year. Every morning the Hell Cats marched into the sally port under our room and when the drums began to beat, "good vibrations" drove us out of bed quickly -- Jim had one record that he played every morning - right after reveille -- We kept hoping that the record would get scratched and become unplayable, but the music from Camelot filled the room right up until graduation… Lord, I grew to hate that song…. At graduation in June of 1962, Jim graduated 43rd in our class and got a chance to shake hands with JFK on the stage. |
| He was a dedicated Army officer: Dick and Jim went off to Airborne School at Ft. Benning, then Artillery School at Ft Sill. …. Our careers diverged for a time. Jim and I met each other later in Munich, Germany in 1963 where he was stationed in the next artillery battalion. He had just volunteered to go to Berlin with a new artillery battery for the next two years. When JFK toured Europe and gave his famous speech at the Brandenburg Gate - "Ich bin ein Berliner," Jim´s battery fired the salute, honoring the President. |
| We lost track of one another for awhile - Vietnam broke out-- Jim joined the 173rd Airborne Brigade in Germany, then was sent to Vietnam in 1966, returned for the career course at Ft Sill and then volunteered to return to Vietnam a second time in 1968-69 as a battery commander right at the peak of US involvement. He wore a set of well-earned medals when he returned -- Three awards of the Bronze Star and two awards of the Air Medal as well as a gold star on his jump wings- he was particularly proud of being part of the sole combat jump made by the 173rd in Vietnam. |
| Graduate School and West Point: After Vietnam, Jim went to Graduate School at Stanford for two years--then back to West Point to teach math for three years. Jim and Rudy Ehrenberg attended Stanford together in 1969-71 which was a focal point of considerable anti-war sentiment. One day the graduate assistant in their class--a long-haired, unkempt hippy of the 70s--suggested that everyone attend the anti-war demonstration in the quad and that classes be cancelled. Both of them resisted the impulse to respond at that time.....and later regretted not saying something. Later that day He and Jim saw the grad assistant in the library. Jim unloaded....told him we were at Stanford to get an education and he had no right to deny us access to classes. Said his job was to teach us mathematics he had no right to make political statements in the classroom. Jim's face was as red as his hair when he finished. He started to turn away, then turned back and said: "Also, man, you really need a shower!!" |
| Every day at noon Rudy and Jim would go to the gymnasium and play pick-up basketball…..often with members of the Stanford football team…..who were very big and often a bit clumsy. Although he was by far the smallest man on the court…..by at least 100 ponds…..Jim quickly earned their respect with his "take no prisoners" style basketball…..recklessly driving the lane and making charges. It is unknown whether he scored points… |
| In the early 1970's, Jim taught in the Mathematics Department at West Point. At that time cadets had mathematics class six days a week for 90 minutes each day. Classes started around 7:30 a.m. and the cadets were often neither interested nor alert. Getting the cadets attention was a challenge for the professors and Jim had some creative approaches. On occasion, Jim would walk to the back of the classroom, stop behind a student dozing off, lean down near his ear, and in a firm voice say: "Cadet Dumbgard, would please go to the board and prove that A = B!" |
| Defense Analyst: In 1974, Jim joined the Army´s Recruiting Command in Chicago in their market analysis office. They quickly put his talents as an analyst to good use as the all-volunteer army was just beginning - studies on where it was best to locate recruiters - how best to decide who would enlist. But during that year, Jim and the Army parted ways. |
| He pursued an MBA at the University of Chicago, then took a job in the civil service with the office of the Secretary of Defense for Programs Analysis and Evaluation. We crossed paths there often - I worked in Army PAE and kept trying to keep his office from taking money away from the Army and he kept trying to make sure we spent what we were given wisely. |
| He loved cars and sports: While assigned in Washington, Jim would often drive out to my house in Manassas - He´d arrive in his red Corvette.- I chided him frequently about why he drove a sports car with a hydromatic shift -- I am told that he spent lots of time looking at catalogs to make sure he had all the right bells and whistles for that car. The Corvette was eventually replaced by a gold RX-7 that he loved and that one did have a manual shift. |
| In the early 1980´s, Jim found Triathlons exciting. For those of us in H-2, we generally shuddered at the thought of going to the gymnasium right across the street from the cadet barracks and could not understand why anyone would attempt such foolish things. Well, Jim did well in Triathalons, competing in races at Columbia, Reston, Winchester, Baltimore and Boston, often placing in the top of his age group. He ran in local road races in Chicago and the Marine Corps marathons. His friends tell me that stories about Jim and new technology abound - he always had to have the latest wet-suit, the newest type of bike tire, a better watch with all the latest features. |
| Most of his vacations centered around cycling trips with a special group of friends. He was known for always having the necessary spare parts or an extra piece of cycling attire, much to his companions´ relief and delight. The bicycle club went to different parts of the world - Ireland, Italy, Germany, England - Most importantly, it was on one of those trips to Ireland in 1993 that he met Kitty Sibold. The two of them found they liked biking and best of all, they liked each other -- a proposal just before Christmas in 1996 and in 1997, we watched the Red One walk down the isle in a nearby church with the love of his life. |
| Kitty and Jim continued to take biking and golf trips together - Kitty planned a bike trip for the Lewis and Clarke trail that really pumped up their breathing - riding over 8000-foot mountains out West. They spent two weeks in New Zealand on another trip. Golfing became an interest and Jim played well. He and Kitty invested in a condo near Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, to play golf and visit their long-time friends as well. World travelers all, the two of them most recently offered Lillian and I advice about visiting the Grand Canyon and Sedona, Arizona. |
| When Jim officially retired from DOD in 1996, he went to work for the Institute for Defense Analyses here in Alexandria - where he taught seminars in countries seeking entry into NATO. He offered advice and education in budgeting and programming and civilian control of the military. His military experience was not lost to the country - he continued in the Army Reserves and retired as a LTC (USAR). Oh, by the way, in his spare time, he volunteered as a math tutor at T. C. Williams High School in Alexandria. |
| He was a loving husband and family man: Jim always took time for family events - never missed a birthday - always sent cards or stopped by to see a nephew or niece. When little ones began to appear - there was Jim helping out - baby sitting, changing diapers, and walking with a burp cloth over his shoulder. He checked up on my daughters as they grew up - a practice he continued with all his nephews and nieces, I am told and I´m sure that he dispensed advice to all of them whether they needed it or not. Right up until the last, Jim always asked about my daughter Kathy´s recent wedding and plans for her reception. |
| Then, during an annual physical in 2001, he found out he had contracted an aggressive form of prostate cancer and soon became a regular member in various medical trials at the National Institutes of Health. When his health began to suffer later, Kitty had many of us scheduled to help in some way. Amid all the effort rendered by his family and Kitty´s, we would patiently walk with Jim, talk about what was going on in the world, see how he was feeling and help him around. Kitty fit in many of his old company mates from H-2 - many of whom are here today - they sent emails and cards - telephoned often -- some arranged their flights to stop by and see him. |
| It is hard to sum up a person´s life in only a few words -- and I know that I have not done justice to him for that would take hours -- But it clear to me that James Martin Worthington was truly a kind and gentle man in every sense of the word - caring, loving - someone that you could always talk to - someone who carried you along in his slipstream when the going got tough. One of his nephews mentioned at an earlier service that Jim embodied much of the West Point code of Duty, Honor, Country, throughout his life, and, as his family noted then, he always put family in its rightful place at the head of the list. He faced serious issues during his career and just as the Cadet Prayer states when those times occurred; he always chose the "harder right, instead of the easier wrong" -- |
| Now, Jim has gone to a better place and I am sure is watching over us today. I am also sure that he is trying to figure out a way to make his angel wings go faster. |
| Kitty and the families want to thank them all, as well as all their other good friends for their help, prayers, and assistance in supporting she and Jim. Her heartfelt thanks are sent out to each and every one of you -- Chuck Poor´s fine craftmanship created the maple and mahogany urn with a thin strip of red wood that reminded Kitty of Jim´s red hair. The wooden box had a tale all its own as the search for a 62 belt buckle began - telephone calls, emails, contacts with members of the AOG and classmates - finally discovering one that was passed from person to person until finally it arrived in Virginia. It now adorns the top of the wooden urn. |
| It seems fitting to end this with part of a verse from the West Point Alma Mater: |
Our course on earth is run May it be said, "Well Done" Be thou at peace... |
| Jim, your family, your friends, your brothers-in-arms from West Point, all of us gathered here today in celebration of your life, most gratefully say … "Well Done" -- we shall miss you….! |