I Am jimmy
James Herb Monroe Jr., born brown and brilliant, December 22, 1966, was gifted to the world by James Monroe and Vernita Mitchell. While living in Waterbury, Connecticut, he grew tall, lean, handsome, and athletic. After high school, James left home to make his mark on the world.
He had the best jobs: Sony, Disney, NASCAR, Intel.
Dated the most beautiful women: “Lisa, Angela, Pamela, Renee I love you, you’re from around the way”. He owned the biggest heart, the best laugh, and the brightest smile.
He selflessly gave his friends and family 53 years of practical advice, spirited debate, and unlimited love. August 18, 2020, he left his love for those who loved him and donated what remained of himself, to science.
He didn’t want to trouble anyone. He was an engineer. Practical. Logical. No fuss, no fanfare, just a gentle goodbye. Yet, those who mourn him, surrender to the illogical sensibilities of love and selfishly join together to celebrate the story of James.
WHAT YOU KNOW
James received a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Brown University.
He earned an MBA from Stanford.
He has a brother named Kelly Monroe.
He has another brother, (no blood relation) named Lawrence Hasten.
He had many brothers, that were not related to him by blood.
He has a sister, that was not related to him by blood, named Michele.
He had many sisters, that were not related to him by blood.
James was an avid sports fan.
He loved the Dallas Cowboys.
He was a member of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity.
He loved going to Brazil.
He loved women.
He really loved women.
James was a nerd.
He ate healthy foods.
His favorite TV shows were, “Lost”, “Battlestar Galactica”, The Walking Dead” and “Power”.
He water-coolered his favorite shows with passion.
He loved Terrel Owens.
He was kind.
He had a world class laugh.
WHAT YOU DIDN’T KNOW
James had multiple scholarship offers to play college basketball.
He routinely beat the players from the Brown basketball team in pick-up games.
As a Corporate Strategist at Disney, he recommended that Disney buy Marvel Studios four years earlier while it was valued at $400 million. Disney ultimately paid $4 billion for Marvel Studios.
James was right about almost everything.
It took him five years to decide to go to Brazil.
He spent the rest of his life going to Brazil whenever he had an opportunity.
He created many opportunities to go to Brazil.
James almost didn’t go to Stanford because he was going to get married.
He was a mentor to his young cousin, Chandler.
His nickname was Jimmy.
He liked Demi Moore in the movie, Striptease, and Jennifer Lopez in Hustle.
His mother spent two years and eight months by his bedside.
He loved Snicker bars, chips, coca cola, and fried foods.
The job at Intel was his dream job.
The doctors gave James 12-18 months to live. He lived 32 months.
His ex-girlfriend, is a reality TV star. He nicknamed her, “Lil Nicky”.
Lil Nicky has been a main cast member on VH1’s reality show Love and Hip Hop: Atlanta, since it’s inception. James and his brother gave her, her stage name. That name is not mentioned here.
He loved Kobe, but he believed Jordan was better.
He loved children.
He liked Biggie, Snoop, 50 Cent, and Dr. Dre
He really, really loved women, but he quoted Snoop when referencing them.
Everyone in his life, believed he or she, was his favorite person.
He ended his journey, the way he began it…with his mother.
The last voice he heard was that of a friend, his favorite person.
The last words he heard were, “I love you”.
Christian Shephard : This is a place that you...that you all made together so that you could find one another. The most important part of your life was the time that you spent with these people on that island. That's why all of you are here. Nobody does it alone, Jack. You needed all of them, and they needed you. (“Lost” The End (TV Episode 2010) – Matthew Fox as Dr. Jack Shepard
“Super Nintendo Sega Genesis, when I was dead broke, man I couldn’t picture this.” Biggie Smalls"
-Michele Dudley