James Gordon MacQueen

James Gordon MacQueen (Jim) was born August 21, 1946 in Boston, Mass as an only child to Anna Foster and James G. MacQueen. He grew up in the greater Boston downtown area and attended English High School. After high school, Jim worked at several jobs while attending Burdett College. He worked as a night parking lot attendant, a pipe fitter at the Quincy nuclear sub facility, and as a teller at a Boston bank.

In August 1968, Jim married Margaret McCartin (Peg) and they moved to Tampa Florida where Jim attended the University of Tampa, graduating with a degree in Economics. At the University Jim became fast friends with a literature professor and his coterie of student poets. As part of that group, Jim's poetry was published in the University press and other publications.

In early 1970, Jim and Peg moved to New Mexico to begin a year as Vista Volunteers in the small ranching community of Portales in eastern New Mexico, close to the Texas panhandle. When their Vista year ended, they traveled around the country before rejoining Vista in Albuquerque. There they worked at Legal Aid and discovered the enjoyment of road biking and backpacking. After this second year in Vista, they moved to Charlottesville, Va.

There Jim earned a Master's in English at the University of Virginia while working with Legal Aid. He read for the law and passed the bar in 1980, after which he opened his own law office specializing in Social Security Disability and Workman's Compensation Law. He was an effective, compassionate advocate, who quickly established a successful and respected practice in the community.

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In 1994 Jim and Peg moved to Grand Junction, Co. Jim reveled in the beauty of the high desert and its canyons. He was interested in all aspects of Western geology, paleontology, ancestral ruins and rock art. Wonderfully, these pursuits dovetailed with new friends who shared his interests. This led to many enjoyable excursions throughout the Southwest, as well as long time, close friendships.

Jim was a man of impeccable integrity and piercing intelligence who marched to the beat of his own drum with wit and humor. He was kind and generous. His unique insight and perspective brought delight to those who knew him.