Eulogy
We were all going to write something and then compile it into one, but
So mom wrote the body which was edited by my older brother Tom and his wife, Lisa.  I can tell because there is a part added that sounds like it was from Tom.  And then Jim and Joe wrote stories that they remembered, and then hearing of these, Megan wanted to add one as well.  I wrote a brief memory and was trying to wrap it all together when four of the granddaughters handed me their pages.
So I hope this flows smoothly enough and that you get a colorful narrative of what my dad was to us
This was written by my mother:
My Husband  Jim Kemeny
Jim was a very good looking fellow and part of my brother Tom's stellar group of friends from St. Ignatius high school in Cleveland Ohio.  These guys maintain their friendships to this day.  Every 5 years they attend their class reunion building their ongoing friendship.  After graduating some of them went to John Carroll University.  This is where Jim signed up for ROTC to be able to enter the service as a 2nd Lieutenant.
Jim took a liking to me as I had to him and we began to date.  When his military obligation took effect, he asked me to wait for him, and I did.  Jim was bright and confident and has his act together.  His plan was to serve two years in active duty and then join the reserves to the remaining two years.  But he didn't keep me waiting; 2nd Lieutenant, James E. Kemeny came back on leave to marry me on August 4, 1962.  
By the time we got to his base in Oakland, Jim had a pregnant wife.  Our first son, Tom, was born 9 months later at the Oakland Naval Center in May of 1963.  During those months, Jim's unit was called up to go to Florida for the Cuban missile crisis.  Before Tommy turned one year old, Jim's two years were up and we went back to Cleveland.  That was a quick turnaround because Jim's sister, Donna and his mother, Helen had moved to Los Angeles while Jim and I were busy adjusting to our new life.  Since Jim had graduated with a degree in social services he decided the best place to apply that trade would be in LA.  Los Angeles was still affordable in those days.  So 1st Lieutenant, James E. Kemeny and his small family drove across country to beautiful Southern California, where his favorite movies were produced.  He was a real movie buff.
We soon got an apartment off La Tierra in LA, not too far from the airport.  I was pregnant again as Jim settled into his new job at the Inglewood office.  We shared our one car, a VW bug, and when I needed it for doctor's appointments, I would drive Jim to work and pick him up.  That first time I showed up at the office, another worker told Jim there was an extremely pregnant woman in the lobby asking for him.  It wasn't until delivery that we realized that I was having twins!  On being wheeled out of the delivery room, the nurse had me call Jim to tell him that he now had three children: our 13 month old, Tom, and two newborn twins, Mary and Jim Jr.  It was a huge surprise that June of 1964.
The next year we moved to Long Beach, where Jim and I became homeowners and on Christmas day, Santa brought us our fourth child, Joe.  Four kids in 2  years!  Thank goodness we were in our twenties-not much sense but a lot of strength and energy.
Jim lift the reserves since the Transportation Corp was no longer housed there and joined the National Guard where he reached the rank of Captain.  As the kids grew Jim served in many different offices in LA County and had many different assignments but never got beyond the level of Deputy District Director, held back in part by Affirmative Action.  Well, the affirmative action that took place in our household was the gift of a fifth child 16 years later, in March of 1981, giving us an equal opportunity to be wiser parents.  As it turns out, the 5th child, Megan, was wiser than her parents!
Jim took an early retirement to enjoy the generous retirement package given then only by LA County and together we went on to enjoy many trips and cruises.  Most importantly, we were able to enjoy many years together with our ever-expanding family and 11 wonderful grandchildren: Haley, Katie, Samantha, Sarah, Lauren, Andrew, Parker, Jake, Joey, Olivia and Ayla.  Jim also enjoyed get-togethers with his sister, Donna, her husband John and their children: Jeannie, Katie, John and Tommy 
(we love our cousins)
(this next part was added by my older brother Tom)
When reflecting on the man they know their father to be, our children shared many fond memories.  As young children, they remember Jim 
playing basketball and baseball, and when they were old enough, he signed them up for various park leagues.  They loved watching professional baseball and basketball games with their dad.  And one of their favorite memories was staying up late, laughing with their dad watching Johnny Carson on the Late Show.  Most of all, they were happy to see their father take an early retirement to enjoy sleeping in, going on bike rides, and spending time with all of his grandkids. 
In Jim's last years, his health was declining and it was difficult seeing him in a state where he could no longer eat, drink, or even speak.  In the end there was comfort for all of us knowing that he could finally rest in peace.
And so Jim, my darlingwe had a great life and a wonderful family together. We all love you and will miss you, always.  Until we see each other again, in the words from one of your favorite movies: Here's looking at you kid.
And this was written from my twin brother, Jim:
Well where do I startDad was great!  We went fishing and camping and we worked on the house.  We had many great memories.  One in particularMy dad loved to share about the time he took me fishing at the Eldorado duck pond.  We were having fun just hanging out fishing, but that day we caught a BIG O' Bluegill!!  We reeled it on to the shore and took it off of the hook.  But we didn't have anything to hold the fish in, so dad ran back to the car to get a container.  When he got back, the fish was gone.  I told him that I thought the fish looked thirsty, and when I put it down by the water to let it drink, it swam off.  Dad looked at me and I looked at him.  He wasn't upset or anything.  We just kept fishing.  I know he loved me.  And I loved him.  I'll miss you dad.
This is what my younger brother, Joe wanted me to tell you:
How would I describe my father?  Well, I considered him the smartest man I ever knew.  There wasn't anything he didn't know or couldn't fix.  He always said when he retired he wanted to be the repair guy at Sears.     Most everything I know is attributed to him.  He taught me a lot about cars and how to fix them.  He always supported me in sports, and when I stopped playing football to surf, he took me to surf contests.  I don't even know if he liked the beach, but we got him on a surfboard at least once.  He always had wisdom to share and an ear to listen.  I know I probably drove him crazy with my Punk Rock music.  But once again, he loved music so he didn't mind (so much).  There were three of us in the band and he would tell us, You're a three piece band.  You should play Jazz.  Go down to the court house and see what the attorneys are wearing and dress like them.  And play Jazz!  We actually composed a few songs, but I don't think he was too impressed with what we came up with.  And with that said, I have to say, he was a great man, and an awesome father.  I'm blessed to have such a man and roll model in my life.  Dad, or pops as he liked to be called, I love you and will have you in my heart and life.  May God bless you
And this from our little sister, Megan, (my baby):
The two things that dad liked best were late nigh television and sleeping in.  And when I joined crew while in high school (that's the local rowing team) a sport with its competitions starting at daybreak, well, needless to say it was a personal challenge to dad's internal clock!  But he was there! Rising before the sun to cheer me on for a morning full of races.  And even though he had no prior knowledge of crew, he quickly took an interest being that he was both a boating and sports enthusiast.
*my addition:
It did seem like he could fix anything and it was also kind of remarkable that he could pick up a book and teach himself whatever subject it was.  From fixing/working on his convertible MG to playing a little guitar, he did like music.  I remember every time he would get a haircut at Lenny's, his barber, he would always stop at the music store next to the barber shop and get sheet music for me to play on the piano.  Whatever song I wanted.  He would bring it to me, and I would memorize it and play it for him.       He also us to say, he had a mind like a steel trap!  And if you ever tried playing Jeopardy against him, you'd swear he was cheating!  Movies, music, sports, history, politics whatever the category he seemed to know all the answers to every question.  Which made it hard to watch as his mind and body slowly declined.  But he held on for a long time.  Sometimes I think he had high expectations of me and for people in general.  Sometimes I felt like I let him down or disappointed him with poor performance, or bad decisions or actions that I took.  But I think it's because he knew I could do better.     What I take from it today is to always to my best, and leave the outcome up to God.  I think he'd be okay with that.  ;)
And not to outdone, 4 of his granddaughters wrote:
It still hasn't exactly hit us that you're gone, but it didn't come as a shock.  After 17 months of suffering you're now in a better place.  You made it past some hard times.  Some of the good thing that we got to witness growing up were how you were able to quit smoking, how you would sit in your chair and watch the Angels games with us, because that was our team and the Dodgers suck!  How you loved to take your boat out to the duck pond, we remember that being one of your favorite activities.  Or how you and grandma would always make us chicken nuggets and mac n cheese for lunch and you would always have our placemats of the presidents out while we ate, and you would help us learn about them.  Then you would tell us go get my diet coke from the fridge.  And you always drank it out of the same Mason jar with a straw.  After lunch you would always go to the garage to listen to your radio, probably to get away from all the chaos we brought.  We are gonna miss the smell of your fresh bread and the taste of your split pea soup.  You loved your beautiful wife, supported your 5 amazing kids, and tolerated you 11 crazy grandkids.  So from the bottom of our hearts, we can tell you that all 17 of your family members, and more will miss you dearly.  We will forever love you!
Always,
Your Sammy Jo, Sarah Sparkle, Lolo, and Katie


And that my friends is my pops in a nutshell.  I hope while I was reading these stories, you had a few fond memories of him come to mind as well.
Thank you all for being here.

We love and miss our Uncle Jimmy!  He is forever in our hearts.  Beautiful slideshow of his life in photos

Even though we have been separated by the years and the miles, Jim was still family. We looked up to him as children and he became a model dad and family man. I am sure he was loved and will be missed. Sympathy and love to all.

Sincere condolences to the Kemeny family.Jim and all of you are in our thoughts and prayers.

OBITUARY

James Elmer Kemeny

December 20, 1939 – July 26, 2016

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