Jim Sunderman

Jim Sunderman, 78, born in 1946, passed away February 2025. “I’ve lived the fullest life”, my Dad said often in the past weeks. He was a scratch golfer and a stud at hoops. He earned a basketball scholarship. He was the gentlest dentist I’ve ever known. He was an irrevocably devoted husband, father and grandfather. He was one of the good ones; a man of integrity and honesty which we don’t see often these days. He was from a previous generation who served without hesitation during Vietnam and he always believed in the good in people. He was so strong but so gentle. He was honest and caring and loving. He taught me it was ok to be strong athletic woman and he always was my biggest fan. He was a lovely ballroom dancer and he sang in choir, and he played the clarinet extremely well.

Personally, he was my rock and my heart. He set the bar way to high for any man to ever come close. He was honest and strong, kind and warm. He appreciated the simplest things and smallest gestures. He had a great sense of humor and loud generous laugh. He made friends everywhere he went even in his last months; and everywhere he spent any time his entire life.

I’m so grateful he was my Dad. I’m so appreciative I got to spend so much time with him in these last months. We shared so many stories and laughed together in the face of time.

Time won last week. We got to say a beautiful goodbye and I got to hold my Dads hand. He went peacefully like he deserved and quickly - his angels didn’t let him suffer long. It makes the shock behind that much stronger, but I’ve felt his presence constantly in the past days and I know he’s going to watch over me from above.

There is a huge void I can feel physically in my heart; but at the same time there is a strong calm presence I feel in every breath now. Dad, I love you and always will. ~KS