Monday, July 20, 2026
In 1993 I was the editor of Emory Magazine, the flagship publication of Emory University in Atlanta. Jimmy, a 1977 Emory alumnus, sent me a copy of his debut collection of stories, “Dancing on the Moon: Short Stories About AIDS,” and asked if I would review it in the magazine, which I did. I was deeply moved by Jimmy’s brave and compassionate decision to address such a devastatingly painful subject in his writing and impressed with his ability to do so with clear-eyed grace and humanity.
Over the years we met many times when I was in New York or when he was in Atlanta visiting family over the holidays. We attended what I think was the first Outwrite writers’ conference in Boston, other conferences in Washington and Philadelphia, and many, many Saints and Sinners conferences in New Orleans. I designed the first website for his indie publishing house, Chelsea Station Editions, and did the first layout for one of his novels, The Three Buddhas. We saw less of each other after I retired from Emory. I was no longer traveling to New York on business and, having left Atlanta, I no longer saw him at Christmas when he visited family.
I know he was extremely happy living in upstate New York after years in Manhattan. The paintings he created there were a completely original amalgam of Grandma Moses and visionary Georgia artist Howard Finster. I don’t think I have known anyone more multi-talented or more productive. To have written so many books of his own, encouraged and published so much work by others, and developed such an impressive oeuvre of charming and delightful artwork is truly remarkable. He was a creative engine!
One of my fondest memories is of his very thoughtful gift of a copy of my favorite book, Invisible Cities, by Italo Calvino, in the original Italian, which he picked up on the Left Bank in Paris. Just like Jimmy to be so thoughtful and generous!
I will miss him, always.
