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 Mass of Christian Burial for James L. Polewchak Jr., age 40, will be 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 14, 2011, at St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church, 8560 Mentor Ave., Mentor.
Born June 10, 1970, in Garfield Heights, Mr. Polewchak was a former resident of Mentor and Port Aransas, Texas, and currently lived in Midlothian, Texas.
A 1988 graduate of Mentor High School, he graduated in 1992 from Miami University of Ohio in Oxford where he received bachelor's degrees in business and atmospheric physics. In 1995, he received his bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from the University of Cincinnati.
He owned the JP Industrial Technologies Inc. in Texas, which represented eight different companies that made equipment for the wire and cable industry. He served as the president of the HLA of the Eagles Nest development; board of directors of Midway Regional Airport and the advisory board for the Port Aransas Airport in Texas. In 2007, he served on the Port Aransas City Council.
Jim's passion was flying; he earned his pilot's license while in college and later held a commercial pilot rating. He enjoyed scuba diving throughout the tropics, sailed the Caribbean, rode a zipline in Costa Rica, backpacked through China, studied and traveled in Germany, climbed a volcano in Colombia, and traveled the country on his motorcycle. Additional pastimes included skiing, hiking, camping, boating, hunting, skeet-shooting, whitewater rafting, playing at least four different instruments and studying foreign languages. He spoke fluent Spanish and German. Having a love for children, he participated in a program to help children receive American dental care in remote Mexican villages. He also enjoyed volunteering at a Dallas emergency room. He had an enormous amount of love for his family and friends.
He is survived by his wife, Kelly (Armstrong) Polewchak, whom he married March 31, 2007; father, James L. Polewchak Sr. of Mentor; mother, Carla (Jerry) Farone-Haupt of Concord; sister, Dr. Jennifer (Jason) Bellman of Maineville; and two nephews, Andrew and Nicholas Bellman.
Friends will be received 2 to 4 and 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Spear-Mulqueeny Funeral Home, 667 Mentor Ave., Painesville. Interment will be in Concord Cemetery.
The News Herald Sunday January 9, 2011
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Ernie Strodtbeck
I have so many memories of Jim. When I think of him I can see his huge smile and and hear his infectious laugh. He was always in a great mood. When we reconnected on facebook last year we talked about families and his love of flying...This world has lost a great man... He will be forever flying in the clouds...His family are in my thoughts and prayers.
Tracy Auten (Schmikla)
Such sad news. A good life cut short.
Jennifer Ballard (Bretz)
The world has lost one of its nicest guys. Your great smile will be missed. My thoughts and prayers go out to Kelly and the rest of Jim's family.
Lisa Toth (Sterner)
Jim was a wonderful person who could always make you smile and laugh. He was kind to everyone and you were lucky to have him as your friend. Jim touched so many people's lives and he will be truly missed.
Beverly Aey (Huntington)
Jim, our time was too short in life. Words are hard to come by in this sad time. The only thing I could possibly say is that we live our lives with the hope that we will make a mark in it. Leave something to be remembered by. This came easy for you. An amazing person from the day we met untill the last time I saw you at the reunion. Now you move on to greater things, soaring high above us all and you can see that yes, you have left your mark. Though it may be an empty void in so many now, you touch us all. I pray for your family, friends and the love of your life.
Christopher Qualey
Jim was always a great guy. I didn't know him really well, but we shared a few classes together and he was always really nice and smiling. We would talk at the class reunions about our lives and it was always great to see him. He was always upbeat. I'm going to miss him.
Catherine Ludwig
Okay, I am going to tell this story one more time, and one time only as Jim would cringe every time and tell me to stop telling this story ... but, it shows the true character of Jim Polewchak. Memorial High School, some dreaded dance. I was a popular girl by any means but Jim was always nice to me, had a smile, a joke, a laught to brighten my day. So, at particular dance, I was feeling especially insignificant and alone when one Jim Polewchak came and asked me to dance (my only dance that night). Although we were never more than friends, what he did for my self-confidence, the way he made me feel important that night, will never be forgotten.
You have a beautiful heart and soul Jim Polewchak - we could all learn a thing or two from you.
With Love, Catherine Ludwig Hartridge
Marie Taylor (Michalski)
It's hard to put into words what a wonderful guy Jim was that would capture what a great guy he was. I have such great childhood memories with him from kickball on Cliffton Court to marching band at Mentor High. He always knew how to make you feel not only important but like a million bucks. His booming laugh, his trademark smile, and his great bear hugs. I can remember a time when I was pretty sad and just walking down the hall and there was a tap on my shoulder and when I turned around there was Jim to give me that bear hug, not say a word just a hug to make sure I knew that he cared. That was Jim, I feel very lucky to have known him.
Carolyn Moore (MHS Parent)
I MET JIM WHEN MY DAUGHTER, CJ (CHRISTY JO) WAS IN BAND AND I WAS MAJORETTE ADVISOR. WHAT A CHARMING, GENTLE SOUL HE WAS. VERY HANDSOME AND CAN NOT IMAGINE HIM HAVING ANY ENEMIES. I HAVE HAD HIM ON MY MIND EVER SINCE I READ THAT HE HAD PASSED AWAY. KELLY, OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYER ARE WITH YOU.
CAROLYN MOORE
Greg Lewis (Class Of '87)
To Jim -
My best man and friend. God has taken your soul to a higher place, but your spirit will remain in our hearts forever. You have touched so many in your life. You were the most energetic, passionate, caring, kind, fearless, driven person that I have known. My memories of our adventures are vivid and will stay with me forever. I always looked forward to reminiscing and laughing about the crazy things we did. Somehow, I think you are reading this and smiling as we speak. You were always smiling, inspiring those around you and letting them know you cared. Your character was infectious.
I remember meeting this loud laughing dude at band camp; he was making anatomical shapes out of his belly button (thanks for the visual). We became close friends and shared tons of fun. The band stories are endless. What great friends we met; it was truly a family. How about that physics class? Making the mouse trap cars and playing "tequila" on our home-made instruments. Do you remember the quote on the wall of Ramsey's class? "He who asks a question is a fool for the moment, but he who does not ask a question is a fool forever." I still dust that one off once in awhile. We used to help your Dad (a great man by the way) install signs on the weekend. We experienced our first car accident when you pulled the van out in front of this guy's brand new car. I don't remeber what kind of car, but boy was he pissed! The van had nothing but a small dent.
We shot guns in the woods near Auburn Career Center. We went out after the football games to Nino's pizza. You won the band flirt award (is that a good thing? hell yes). High School ended, but the crazy adventures continued. We went to different schools, but always kept in touch and visited. Then we decided to take Jim and Greg's excellent adventure - A 10 day country western vacation where we listened to nothing but country music.
We climbed to the top of the smokey mountains (boy did that beer you snuck up there taste great from the top of the world). We white water rafted - I wasn't sure you were coming back up when you fell out of the boat. We visited Elvis and Graceland. Then off to Nashville. Who would have thought that in Knoxville I would have been taped for 3 episodes of the cable TV country line dancing show Club Dance? We saw stone mountain and went all the way to New Orleans. Speaking of New Orleans, that was one heck of a Mardi Gras eh? I still have the poster. Remember what your buddy did to get the chick on the balcony to throw down her beads? (TMI)
We were roommates in apartment 1313 - certainly not bad luck if you know what I mean (wink, wink). We'll leave out most of the details in this public forum! Who gets stopped by the cops for rollerblading in the toys r us parking lot at midnight? Apparently we had set off some motion sensor alarms. You taught my parrot how to swear! I can still hear Shakespeare saying "f*#! you F*#! you." It was wrong, but so funny.
You did what you wanted. You went where you wanted. Heck, you even had the guts to play softball with my team down in Cincy. You were unafraid to try new things. The point here is that I never would have done most of these things without having met you. Everyone you knew has a unique Jim story, of that there is no doubt. It was a slam dunk choice when I asked you to be my best man. It was an honor and privilege to have you stand up for me. My son's middle name is James - it just seemed right for some reason.
When you moved South, we spoke less often and that is just a fact of life I guess. You were always in my thoughts and I so respected your self-made success. You had the fortitude to follow your dreams and you did so with much vigor. It is so easy to pick up the phone and chat - friends should never let that go. I wish we had spoken once more, but God came calling. You are doing higher work now, but I will see you again some day. You were an inspiration to the world.
Jimbo - we will miss you.