James Robert Mosby

Mosby Jr., James R. 8/4/1937 - 2/12/2017 James R. Mosby, Jr., (Jim), died February 12, 2017, of acute myeloid leukemia at Rose Arbor Hospice of Kalamazoo. He is survived by his precious wife of 53 years, Margaret McNish Mosby (Maggie) and his beloved son, Josh R. Mosby, both of Kalamazoo. Also surviving are sister Nan Mosby Thompson (Clyde) of Greenwood Village, CO, nephews Mark Thompson (Barb) of Kansas City, MO, Scott Thompson (Pat) of Sterling, CO, Todd Thompson (Mary) of Denver, CO, brother-in-law Robert J. McNish (Sue Hirsch) of Chicago, IL, Pam McNish of Glenview, IL, nephew Sam McNish (Gabriela) of Parker, CO, niece Emily McNish of Glenview, IL and two great-nephews and three great-nieces. Jim was predeceased by his father J. Robert Mosby, his mother Margaret Wallace Mosby and Ida Cowette, a much-beloved, live-in "grandmother" and friend. Jim was born in Detroit, Michigan on August 4t, 1937. He grew up in Birmingham, Michigan where he graduated from Birmingham High School (now Seaholm) in 1955. Jim earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1959 from the University of Michigan where he majored in journalism. At U of M, he worked on The Michigan Daily, was senior manager of the varsity basketball team, member of the U of M letter winners club, member of the M Club and a proud member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity. Jim started his newspaper career in 1959 as a reporter at The Bay City Times, where he also worked as an assistant to the City Editor. Jim was promoted to City Editor of the Jackson Citizen Patriot in 1972 where he worked for four years and then to The Muskegon Chronicle in 1977 as Metropolitan Editor for three years. In 1979 he was named Managing Editor of the Kalamazoo Gazette and subsequently named Editor on January 1, 1983, where he served in that capacity until his retirement in August of 2000. During his time at the Gazette, he helped found the STAR Awards program, which annually honors local volunteers and is co-sponsored by the Gazette and the Volunteer Center of Greater Kalamazoo. He was also proud to be an originator of an award-winning conference that explored race relations in Greater Kalamazoo, for high school and college students and the adult community, co-sponsored by the Gazette and Western Michigan University. Jim then served on the Advisory Board for WMU's Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnic Relations, whose creation was a direct outgrowth of the Gazette/WMU conference. He also served on a Race Relations Task Force which advised Diether Haenicke, then WMU President, on the creation of the Institute. Jim also worked in two other fields: automotive and entertainment. In 1964 when the Mustang was introduced, Jim worked in the Youth Promotions Department at the Ford Division of the Ford Motor Company in Dearborn, Michigan coordinating Ford college concert tours and heading Ford's national high school driver education program. He was also in the entertainment field based in New York City, first as tour manager for folk singers Peter, Paul & Mary then running the office of their personal manager, the late, legendary Albert B. Grossman. The firm also managed the careers of Bob Dylan, The Band, Odetta, Ian & Sylvia, Richie Havens and Gordon Lightfoot, among others. In retirement, Jim remained very active. He was a member of the Kalamazoo Rotary Club and gave his time both as a volunteer and as a board member for Ministry With Community, Family and Children Services, The Kalamazoo Civic Theater and the Volunteer Center. Church was very important in Jim's life. He was an active member of the Episcopal Cathedral Church of Christ the King, serving twice as Senior Warden (Chair) of the Vestry board and most recently as a member of St. Martin of Tours Episcopal Church of Kalamazoo, where he had been head of the Vestry at the time he fell ill. Jim Mosby was also a longtime member, and former President, of the Outlook Club. Donations in Jim's memory can be made to Ministry With Community 500 N. Edwards Street, Kalamazoo, MI 49007 or to St. Martin of Tours Episcopal Church of Kalamazoo 2010 Nichols Road, Kalamazoo, MI 49004 A funeral/memorial service will be held later in the early spring. A time and date is to be determined soon.