James "Jim" Hope

Jim was born on December 10, 1939, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, in the South Bend area, to Palmer and Alice Hope. He often expressed gratitude to his parents for giving him “the wings to fly and to be what I could be” and for trusting him to find his own way in life.

Jim graduated from Purdue University in 1965. While attending Purdue, he worked at Michigan City Prison. His professional life took several different paths, including working as an engineer for Ransburg and later as a Realtor with F.C. Tucker.

At the heart of Jim’s life was his beloved wife, Phyllis Stewart-Hope, whom he affectionately called his “lady.” Phyllis brought love, companionship, and steadiness to his life, and those closest to them knew the profound difference she made in his life. Following her death in 2023, Jim missed his lady deeply.

Jim loved Dale Stewart and Cindy Stewart and held an especially tender place in his heart for his granddaughter, Emma Stewart. He once wrote to Emma, “You have been the light of my life since the day you were born. You are a very special young lady.” One of his favorite memories was holding Emma on his chest as a newborn. He needed desperately to go to the bathroom but refused to move because he could not bear to disturb her.

Jim possessed an adventurous spirit and a genuine curiosity about people and cultures. He took a yearlong sabbatical to travel across the country and, throughout his life, visited many states and countries. These experiences gave him an appreciation for both the differences and similarities among people throughout the world. He enjoyed making new friends at Britton Falls while continuing to value longtime friendships, including the special bond he shared with his goddaughter, Teresa Sitton, whom he described as his “God-Daughter and longest friendship.”

One of Jim’s most meaningful accomplishments took him to Warsaw, Poland, where he helped establish the first ambulatory center for fee-for-service medicine for St. Vincent as a model for the newly freed Poland.

Service was an important part of Jim’s life. His work in Honduras with Sociedad de los Amigos resulted in lasting friendships and opportunities to mentor young men. He also mentored young people in Hamilton Southeastern schools. His community involvement included disaster work with the American Red Cross, the Fishers Fire Corps, the Fishers Police Academy Alumni Association, Project Lifesaver, and St. Vincent de Paul.

Jim believed that God had given him the talents and abilities to pursue the opportunities that came his way, and he sought to put those gifts to good use.

Jim was preceded in death by his beloved wife and “lady,” Phyllis Stewart-Hope. He leaves behind Dale Stewart, Cindy Stewart, his beloved granddaughter Emma Stewart, and many family members and friends whose lives were touched by knowing him.

Perhaps Jim’s own words best express the lesson he hoped to leave behind: “Be kind—for everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about.”