Martha, I have just learned of Jim's death. I am so sorry for your loss. Jim was such an inspiring leader with his big heart and  generous spirit.  Mountain View stands as his legacy to excellence.  He dreamed big dreams for the high school he created and saw  them fulfilled. I will always be grateful for his friendship and support.
I imagine heaven is a bit more lively since his arrival.
Well done, Mr. Curlett.
Now Rest in Peace.

I would like to thank all of you.  The people who came for Jim's Memorial  Mass, the cards, donations, the telephone calls, the responses on the website.  It has been a wonderful tribute to a great man who touched the lives of many people.  Jim was my Soul mate for 58 years in this life and I know that we will continue to be together  forever.  Thanks again for caring.  Martha

May you rest in peace..Mr Curlett 
Class of 1989

Uncle Jim - my memories and most wonderful thoughts go back as far as I can remember.  Thank you, God was good to put you in my life!  Love and prayers for you and to Aunt Marsh.

Mr. Curlett was a wonderful principal and friend to his students. Thanks for the wonderful moments you shared with us at Mountain View. Love Always, Class of '81

Uncle Jim....you gave us an opportunity and we took it!  Our move from Michigan to Arizona...almost 38 years ago, has been what has shaped our lives.  We thank you and Aunt Martha for your support in our twenties, and for enriching both of our lives in our 30 year teaching careers...both professionally and personally.  With love, Dave and Val

Dear Curlett Family,

Mr. Curlett challenged us new science teachers to use our enthusiasm, our teamwork and our creativity. He made a conscious effort not to bridle us with administrative road blocks.  Our students thrived on that new and impressive Mountain View Campus. Mr. Curlett helped guide me through those rough first years of teaching.  I have so many vivid memories of the man.  I saw him use his hands to tear apart a burning homecoming float with two reckless sophomore boys trapped inside, and I saw him win a Dom Scafaria look alike contest wearing a gold Italian neck chain, unbuttoned wild polyester print shirt, and white belt and white shoes. Polished and skilled, Mr. Curlett was the archetype comprehensive high school principal, one who made a positive difference in the lives of students and educators alike.

Martha, Not sure if you remember me,(we worked at Dr. Watkins together)  but I wanted to send my sympathy on Jim's passing.  I remember him being a great guy.  Sue Black Lickman

1987 gymnastics "Go get em tiger!" Go get them Mr. Curlett!

Thank you for a life well lived and devoted to excellence.  He will be missed here on earth, but he lives on.
 MVHS class of 1991

Condolences to the family of the man who set the bar high at Mountain View High School. Many families in the East Mesa Community appreciate the standard he set, and the role he played in developing values and educational excellence for our families to be the beneficiaries of.

Jim Curlett was a wonderful principal to work under and better yet a man of honor. It was a privilege to work with him at Mt. View High School. Thank you for that experience. RIP.
Beccie Reed

You will be missed...its been a long time since I graduated Mountain View High School...but i  remember you fondly...its funny i always tell the same story how you suspended me from school for 3 days and called my dad cause I constantly kept taking your parking space...ha ha....you told me after doing it over and over again, that I could no longer drive MY car onto campus...so I took that to mean MY CAR....so I switched cars with my boyfriend and he drove my car on campus and I drove his car...a little switcharoo so to speak and at that point is when he called my dad, irritated and told him I was on a 3 day suspension because that was not what he exactly meant ....too funny...but he got over the irritation and laughed about it and we made peace and when i graduated he talked about my story and wished me well with my future endevors....

Thank you Principal Curlett for everything you taught, shared and blessed us with. 
Class of 1989

I was hired by Jim when we started up MVHS.  
He put together an excellent staff, I have never taught with a more hard-working,  dedicated, creative, fun-loving bunch!  He managed to initiate a little Teaching Camelot there at MVHS!

As a member of MVHS 'class of 1980' I am glad to have known and been taught by Mr. Curlett during my high school years. He was the anchor which supported the strength and spirit of Mountain View. He was friendly, kind, firm and fair with his direction to all young students; a great principal and great counselor. I am sorry for his loss, but proud of his accomplishments and the lives he touched in such a positive way to help everyone succeed. A true legacy as an educator...he will be sorely missed!

I always marveled at Jim's ability to select people of varied backgrounds, taking their strengths and then melding them into an outstanding educational team.  I was priviledged to be a part of the team Jim put together to plan for the new Moutain View High School.  Jim "captained" the staff and students through the time we were on double sessions at Mesa High as we waited for the completion of our new building, through the hectic move to our new facility, and then through the creation of a high school experience for students which was beyond exemplary.  Jim took a chance by hiring me as the first female high school administrator in Mesa Public Schools.  Jim was a wonderful mentor during my time at MVHS.  He provided me with the background and knowledge I needed to succeed in my future career pursuits. The Curlett family will never know the full extent of Jim's impact on the staff and students he touched but his memory and legacy will live on.  
-- Jean Marsom Rogers, Tubac, AZ

Jim's memory lives on as the founding principal of Mountain View High School. He inspired the students and staff and will always be remembered for his contributions.

Jim Curlett was my mentor and model as a school administrator in public school administration. I had the privilege and honor of serving him as a teacher, as a coach,and as one of his assistants in administration always feeling well supported and appreciated. He will always be the Father and leader of the great Mt. View High school that I remember. God be with you forever captain Jim. Joseph A. Pico

As I sit here stunned & saddened with tears in my eyes, my thoughts rush back to my days at Mountain View -     I was lucky to be 1 of the very 1st students at the new campus, and a part of the 1st class to go all 3 yrs at the new campus. Mr. Curlett treated everyone fairly, always had a smile, a laugh, or words of encouragement for his students!
I'm sure I wasn't the only girl who had a bit of a crush on the good looking principal lol  =) 
I have never forgotten Mr. Curlett & never will ! I second all the wonderful comments by my fellow students & teachers and I will add that Mr. Curlett was a class act -     I wish he had been the principal at Mtn View when my kids were there!
RIP Mr. Curlett, you will never be forgotten by the hundreds of students you guided! My thoughts & prayers go out to his family & I hope they are comforted by the words of all of Mr. Curlett's teachers & students.

I have wonderful memories of Mr. Curlett. I'm grateful for his leadership and personal touch he added to my high school experience. Class of '78

Mr. Jim Curlett was an exceptional principal.  His influence on students, staff, and parents was powerful. He was a wonderful mentor for so many of us that began our careers at Mt. View.  Jim Curlett is one of the reasons why I chose to go into school administration and I still think often of his unique successful ways of handling challenging situations!  On behalf of all of the members of the 79-87 Mountain View Gymnastics Teams, I want to extend our thoughts and prayers to his family.  He will be missed by so many!

I knew Mr. Curlett from Mountain View High School.  He was a very nice man, and well respected. He gave students a since of pride and I will never forget him.

When I started teaching at Mountain View High School, Special Education was still relatively new.  Jim was very supportive of the teachers and staff in order to ensure that the students received the services they needed.  Teaching for Jim Curlett was truly rewarding.

Mr. Curlett was a great man, he listened to and cared about all of his students.  Those were character traits so many of us in high school were searching for in the adults around us.  To his family who lost him, from the kids he helped to find themselves, thank you for sharing him with us.

Margaret Dillon, Mtn View class of 1979

as the first principal of mountain view high school and for my class 1978 I am sorry to hear of his passing...my memories of him will always be at the football games and him helping to hold the bull. RIP Mr Curlett.

I owe a major part of my career in education to Jim.  Thirty-four years ago he took a chance on an inexperienced young man and gave me more responsibility than seemed sensible.  He did the same for many of us who were 'young guns' in those days.  His trust and confidence in me gave me confidence in myself as a teacher.  I always knew Jim had my back and my best interests at heart.  I have worked for a number of administrators in my career and, simply, Jim was the best.  I know I told him all of these things and I know he enjoyed my support, but I know from my own father's passing that the words of others regarding how they felt about my dad were important to our family.  Bless you all and know that Jim made tremendous differences in hundreds of lives.

I was a student at Mt. View high school when Mr. Curlett was principal.  I remember him being a very kind person.  My thoughts are with his family.   Sincerely, Joyce Brinton-Anderson, Class of 1991.

On behalf of the East Valley Marines Detachment #1296 of the Marine Corps League, please accept  condolences on the loss of your family member, friend, and our brother Marine, James Curlett.  Once a Marine Always a Marine. Semper Fi.

I will always hold the name Jim Curlett in my memory. Jim was my mentor, confident and friend. I have missed talking with Jim over the past few years and now I have lost a man who meant so much to me and my professional career. My deepest regards to Martha and his family.

Jim Curlett was the principal who challenged me, helped me grow professionally  and was a supporting friend when I needed one.  He was a gifted educator, and I loved his outspoken educational views.  He dearly loved his wife, Martha, and two children.  I am so sorry that I lost contact after both of us retired.  He is surely working with kids in heaven.  Rest in peace.  Joyce Hogan

I am a 1980 graduate of Mountain View High School.  The first time I ever spoke to "Principal" Curlett was after being caught lobbing water balloons across campus into one of the classrooms.  Fortunately, I wasn't the only student called to his office.  After receiving my reprimand I remember looking back just in time to see Mr. Curlett shake his head while chuckling under his breath.  I went on to earn my college degree and a career as an officer in the Army.  I hope Mr. Curlett passed knowing that his tireless efforts to prepare us for the world have never been forgotten.

Mr. Curlett made a positive impact on the lives of so many students at Mt. View High school. He was a great leader and mentor. It was good to have a man of faith at the helm.

Family of Jim Curlett,
     In a long career as a coach and teacher I never admired a principal as much as I did Jim Curlett.  He skillfully blended together two diverse junior high school populations and created the Mountain View success story.  From the beginning, he announced that Mountain View was going to be Mesa's premier school and he made good on that promise by hiring good people and challenging them to do their best while adding innovative programs such as Advanced Placement classes and Academic Decathlon.  He set a standard for Mountain View that few schools have come close to and he should be honored as one of Arizona's all time great educators.  It was an honor to work for him and I deeply regret his passing.
With much respect,  
Jesse Parker

Thank you for all your years of service as our principal. You made a difference in our lives.

Rest in Peace Principal Curlett. 
Tonna (Major) Smith
 "Class of 81"

 Martha:My memories of Jim will remain with me for he was my mentor, confident and friend. I am sorry that we lost contact after retirement and I know that your loss will not only be your loss, but the loss to many people who knew Jim. My prayers for you are said in silence, but may they reach you in thought.

I met Jim as a member of the Gold Canyon Lions.  We talked a number of times and I grew to like him and I am sure he was liked by many.  I am sorry to learn of his passing.  God bless him and his family.

Martha..as the love of your life enters the 'House of GOD', may your broken heart begin it's healing.

OBITUARIO

James "Jim" Curlett

1 mayo, 1930 – 18 abril, 2013

Mariposa Gardens Memorial Park & Funeral Care

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