To the editor:

I write to add my remembrance of a very dear friend, James Seaver. In 1974, I called Jim to introduce myself and to tell him I knew very little about opera but wanted to start an Opera Guild to support the Lyric Opera of Kansas City. Jim thought it was a great idea and from that first phone call, a friendship of 36 years began.

I accompanied Jim and his wonderful wife, Virginia, to many operas where Jim would school me in how to listen. He invited me to his home to listen to famous opera singers like Caruso and Callas. We began the opera guild together, and it was very successful. Lawrence friends loved visiting members’ homes to prepare for the next Lyric Opera production. We proudly made a group contribution annually.

As our friendship grew, I learned that Jim had been a great tennis player at Stanford so the mentoring began again. He taught me how to play doubles so that he could “save my partners” from chasing after my errant balls. We had wonderful times on the court because he was ever the gentleman encouraging me to improve.

I was in Lawrence a couple of weeks ago when a bit of serendipity occurred. I was attending a play at University Theatre in Murphy Hall, where I saw Virginia in the lobby. When she told me that Jim was in Swarthout Recital Hall, I ran in to give him a big hug and to tell him how much his friendship had always meant to me. I feel so lucky I had a chance to tell him. I will miss him very much.