James R. Trew

James R. Trew, 88, passed away on January 25, 2021 in Fairfax, VA. Born November 19, 1932, to Charles A. and Violette L. Trew in Portland, Maine. He earned a Bachelor’s in Geology at Occidental College, California in 1954 and his Master’s in Geology at Brown University in 1955. After college, James worked briefly for Standard Oil Company of Texas as a sub-surface geologist before entering the U.S. Air Force as a Technical Intelligence Officer. Upon leaving the military in 1959, he served at the Associate Chief Librarian at Space Technology Laboratories, Redondo Beach, California. While there he married his sweetheart Frances M. Mitchell in 1961.

In 1962 James initiated a 36-year career at the Library of Congress in Washington D.C. by accepting a supervisory position with the Library’s newly established National Referral Center for Science and Technology. He went on to oversee increasing responsibilities to include directing the Library’s space management and planning programs for facilities, personnel, and collections on Capitol Hill and remote locations. He retired in 1996 as the Director of the Library of Congress, Integrated Support Services, providing international advice on facility planning and collection storage to librarians and archivists throughout the world.

In leisure, James coached football and basketball with his best friend, Gene Nelson, for Braddock Road Youth Club where he also served as the football commissioner. He was an active hiker and camper with his son Charles (favorite spot Colorado), enjoyed spectating in daughter Linda’s running competitions, and his favorite escape was the beach--living in Hawaii (1999-2004) and recently a second home at the beach in Melbourne, Florida.

James is survived by his daughter Linda and husband Wayne Cherry of Burke; son Charles and wife Marina Kalugina of Arlington; grandchildren James Bruhn (and pending great granddaughter Elianna with Amber Tomasello), Alexis Bruhn, Natalie Bruhn, Nicholas Bruhn, Elizabeth Bruhn, Nathan Cherry, and Bradley Cherry. James was preceded in death by his parents, wife Frances of 36 years in 1997, and his sister Juanita. He was ready to join Frances in Heaven! Mom, here he comes!