RIP Jim Dwyer - Free spirited eccentric, out spoken, caring, giving, loveable oddball. There was no one else like him. He was pure Chico. You will be missed by many in this community. Thank you Rev Moondog for all your years of support of community radio and local music! Our deepest condolences to the Dwyer family.
From the CSU, Chico Public Affairs office:
"It saddens us to announce that Jim Dwyer, librarian emeritus and community poet and activist, passed away Sunday, June 28. He was 65. According to family, Jim was found deceased in a convenience store in Sacramento. Cause of death is unknown pending a coroner’s report.
A Seattle native, Jim was born July 21, 1949. He received his bachelor’s in English and his master’s in library science from the University of Washington in Seattle. Prior to coming to CSU, Chico, he held library positions at the State University of New York at Albany, the University of Washington, the University of Oregon, and Northern Arizona University.
Jim came to CSU, Chico to work in the Meriam Library in May 1986 as the head of Bibliographic Services. One of his assignments was as the collection developer for the subject area of English, which he described as a “major joy” in his career. He was a prolific writer of scholarly works, poetry and reviews, with 16 scholarly articles in major journals, 19 literary studies, 84 book reviews in Library Journal, and numerous poems. He published two books: “Earth Works: Recommended Fiction and Nonfiction about Nature and the Environment” (1996, Neal Schuman Publishers) and “Where the Wild Things Are: A Field Guide to Ecofiction” (2010, University of Nevada Press).
Jim entered the Faculty Early Retirement Program in 2006 and completed his retirement in the 2010-11 academic year.
Jim’s interests and activities in and around the Chico community were legion. A short list of Jim’s passions would include kayaking, reading, concert-going, gardening, cooking and cats. He was a constant presence at music events, meetings concerning social justice, protection of the environment and other issues and open mic opportunities, where he would share his poetry often using the moniker “Reverend Junkyard Moondog.” Jim was irrepressible, unmistakable, fearless, witty, iconoclastic, erudite and, perhaps most of all, joyful.
Jim is survived by a brother, William Dwyer, plus
many friends and extended family. The University flag will be lowered in
his memory on Tuesday, July 7, which happens to be National Strawberry Sundae Day and Chocolate Day, facts Jim may
well have known but regardless would have found amusing. More info will be passed along, such as dates of memorials, as it becomes available."
