James Pearson "Jim" Cairns

1923 - 2014  (90 years)

• Name	James Pearson "Jim" Cairns
  Born	5 Oct 1923	Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  Gender	Male
  Military	RCAF WW2
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-97420
  Died	2 May 2014	Kingston, Frontenac Co., Ontario, Canada
  Person ID	I97420	Generations
  Last Modified	28 Jan 2025

  
  

  Father	Hugh Cairns,   b. 1887, , Scotland ,   d. 1952  (Age 65 years)
  Mother	Lilly McAuley Crawford,   b. Sep 1896, Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland ,   d. 1992  (Age ~ 95 years)
  Married	7 Oct 1920	, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  Family ID	F22779	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Patricia Parnell
  Last Modified	29 Jan 2025
  Family ID	F59985	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  JAMES PEARSON CAIRNS October 5th, 1923 \endash March 2nd, 2010 Beloved husband, adored father, treasured grandfather and loyal friend, James Pearson Cairns (Jim) died as he lived, with courage, patience and an unfailing sense of humour. Jim was born in Galt, Ontario, the second son of Hugh and Lily Cairns. He attended Galt Collegiate Institute, graduating with a scholarship to the University of Toronto. His education was interrupted by a brief stint in the RCAF as a wireless mechanic (likely the high water mark of his mechanical achievements). He returned to university after the war, graduating with the Breuls Gold Medal in Political Science. After earning an M.A from Columbia University, he went to Oxford on a Beaver Club Scholarship. Although he had to withdraw in order to recover from tuberculosis, there was a silver lining to his time in the U.K. While convalescing, he met his very own English rose, Patricia Parnell. They married in 1952. Daughter Rosemary was born in 1956. Jim completed a Ph.D. at Johns Hopkins University, graduating Phi Beta Kappa. He joined the Faculty of the Royal Military College in 1960, retiring as professor emeritus after 30 years of distinguished service, including twelve years as Dean of Arts. Although his career was a source of personal satisfaction, what really mattered to Jim was family and friends. He was a gentle and dedicated partner to Pat for 57 years, a loving father to Rosemary, a role model and second father to son-in-law Daniel (Way), and an exemplary grandfather to Erin, Alexander and Kielan. He followed their exploits with tremendous pride, offered considered counsel, and, above all, demonstrated for them the qualities of fairness, pursuit of excellence, and commitment to social justice. Jim was proud of the considerable achievements of his two brothers, John and Alan, both distinguished academics. Jim was a passionate reader, whose well-marked collection of books provides testament to his rigorous engagement with the world. He played chess for 70 years, was a long-standing member and Past President of the Kingston Chess Club, and a keen participant in correspondence chess - often managing twelve to fifteen games at a time via snail mail. He loved his garden, enjoying the yearly rituals of planting and harvesting tomatoes, beans and raspberries, which he and Pat 'put up' in their well stocked freezer. Jim was a generous and compassionate man, whose life was filled with great good fortune, who appreciated the gifts that fate bestowed upon him, and who tried, every day, to make a difference. A celebration of his life is planned for 1 p.m., May 8th, Senior Staff Mess, Royal Military College - just about the time that the peas need planting. The Globe and Mail on Mar. 6, 2010. "James CAIRNS Obituary (2010) - The Globe And Mail". 2021. Legacy.Com. https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/theglobeandmail/obituary.aspx?n=james-pearson-cairns&pid=189940065.

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 5 Oct 1923 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Died - 2 May 2014 - Kingston, Frontenac Co., Ontario, Canada  = Link to Google Earth