TINGEY, James W.
James Warren Tingey, beloved husband, father, grandfather and teacher and quintessential Renaissance man, died in his home in Owings Mills, Maryland on March 4, 2022. He was 74. Born and raised in Fresno, California, Jim migrated east to Northwestern University to earn a degree in engineering. He worked his way through school, using his garrulous social skills bartending on the near north side of Chicago and working at a local funeral parlor.
Soon after graduation, he met and married Marcia Morgan, his perfect foil and lifetime support. He began his career in the corporate field, started his own food marketing company, and completed his professional career as a highly praised and sought-after classroom teacher at Central School in Wilmette.
Jim was a child’s dream father and grandfather. His children, grandchildren and their friends benefited from his wide-ranging interests and expertise: He built a house-replica playground equipped with skylights, backyard ice rinks, and a go-cart from scratch; took them fishing, camping, skiing, and boating; bred his hunting dog Lucky so they could experience new pups; coached or umpired all of their sports and enjoyed every minute of it.
He was an excellent athlete and sports enthusiast--a runner, golfer, boater, baseball player, skier and wrangler. He played guitar, wrote music, and performed in local venues; a water colorist who gifted friends with portraits of their homes or animals.
Jim had many fast friends with whom he shared mutual interests, including fly fishing and environmental conservation. He and Marcy purchased an island in Lake Kawaguesaga and spent summers there rebuilding the land with miles of pathways, lookout points, a bunkhouse and a renovated main house. There they entertained family and friends for weeks at a time. His family would call the Island his greatest legacy.
After his retirement, Jim and Marcy moved from the Chicago area to Baltimore. He immersed himself in Trout Unlimited’s program Trout in the Classroom, where he continued to teach, and in his Catch and Release business where he created “flat taxidermy” watercolors to preserve the memory and the fish.
Jim is survived by his wife, Marcy, daughter and sonin-law Lauren Tingey and Patrick Smith, and his son and daughter-in-law Travis and Kim Tingey; and by four grandchildren, Sage Morgan and Ellis Aaron Smith, and Henry Warren and Cameron James (CJ) Tingey. Burial is family only. A Celebration of Life will be held in Chicago on Sunday June 5th from 11am-3pm at Sheridan Shore Yacht Club. Donations can be made to the Jim Tingey Memorial. Send check c/o Russell Chiodo 1509 Bellona Ave, Lutherville MD 21093.
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