James Daniel Teasdale, until recently a long-time resident of Friday Harbor, passed away March 26 at the Washington Veterans’ Home in Port Orchard.
Jim was born on April 2, 1943, to Albert and Eveline Teasdale in Detroit, Mich., the eldest of their four children. He lived in Michigan until joining the Navy, then in Southern California for several decades before moving to Friday Harbor with his family in 1992.
Jim finished his bachelors of science at California State University, Long Beach. He worked for Wycliffe Bible Translators and then as a software test engineer for Xerox. After moving to Friday Harbor, he worked in the post office until he retired in 2011.
Jim was an avid musician. He played trombone in his high school’s honor band, winning several top awards, including a summer at Interlochen Music Camp, and continued to play in the Naval Band.
In later years, he played only occasionally, but volunteered to help tutor FHHS band students. His rich, deep voice was often heard blending with The San Juan Singers, The Chordsmen, and with the Presbyterian Church choirs.
Jim enjoyed being out on the water. After his tour of duty on the USS Bainbridge, he lived aboard his own boat in Marina Del Rey, Calif., where he served in the Coast Guard Auxiliary in his spare time. He met Janelle while they were doing search and rescue for the Auxiliary. They were married in 1980, and lived in Long Beach, Calif., for over a decade.
After moving to Friday Harbor, he bought a small skiff to take his sons Jarvis and Andrew fishing, but after an accident in the mail jeep on island, he felt a little unstable on his feet.
Poor health caused Jim to move to an assisted living home in Everett in 2012, and later that year to the Veterans’ Home. He was preceded in death by his parents and son Jarvis. He is survived by his son Andrew Teasdale, grandson Elisha, and granddaughter Esther of Bangor, Maine; siblings Sue Wachowski, Ken Teasdale, and Dave Teasdale, and their families; and his former wife, Janelle Teasdale.
It was Jim’s request that there be no memorial service; there was a small family celebration of his life instead.
— Family of James Teasdale
