James I. Seeger

October 8, 1943 — March 8, 2019

JAMES I. SEEGER

On March 8th, 2019, James (Jim) Seeger, loving husband and father of one child passed away peacefully at the age of 75 at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center after losing his valiant battle with Alzheimer's disease.

Jim was born the second of identical twin sons to Harlan and Catherine Seeger in California. Growing up in Burbank, CA, the family moved to the Shadow Hills section of Sunland in the San Fernando Valley. At age 10,
the boys spent many hours hiking in the hills after school. Jim attended Verdugo Hills Junior High and High School. He learned to play the flute and participated in the high school band and orchestra for years. He was a 3-year letterman in varsity gymnastics and competed in the L.A.
City Finals on pommel horse. Jim was also elected to the student body office of Chief Justice of the Student Court.

At Pomona College in the small town of Claremont, CA, he earned a Bachelor's Degree in Biology and then attended graduate school at Syracuse University. Jim started his career as a biochemist in 1968 working for the Wadsworth Center of the New York State Department of Health in Albany. His specialty was synthesizing protein particles used in cancer research.

Jim enjoyed visiting art museums and traveling. In 1965 he joined 5 to 6 college students on a church sponsored trip to Central America. They helped to build a school in Guatemala and visited Panama and several Caribbean Islands. His later travels took him to Egypt, Europe, Russia, Jamaica and Peru.

In 1991, Jim married Graciela (Chela) Carranza, and together they were blessed with the birth of their son, Joseph (Joe) in 1992. In their frequent early travels to Chela's home in Peru, her relatives relished the fact that Jim loved the country, history, culture,and their food, always requesting "the hotter the better."

Jim's recreational activities included hiking, canoeing, kayaking, and later snowshoeing often with his son Joe and/or his trusty Dachshund, Fred. He frequently traveled to Washington State to backpack in the North Cascades with brother Dave and their father.

After 30 years working as a Senior Researcher for the Wadsworth Center of the NY State Department of Health, he retired, took on a job as a consultant for the same institution, and later other temporary jobs.

Jim was preceded in death by his father and mother, Harlan and Catherine of Simi Valley and Studio City, CA. He is survived by his wife, Chela of Bennington, and their son, Joe of Bennington; his twin brother, David of Omak, WA; his two sisters Sylvia (Bob) and Teresa of Simi Valley, CA; three nephews, Craig (Kathryn) of Portland, OR, Eric (Serene and their son Adoniah) of Omak, WA, Darren of Simi Valley, CA; and niece, Kristen, of Encino, CA.

Jim will be remembered for his quiet demeanor, his smile, and gentle and compassionate spirit.

A celebration of his life will be held on May 11th 2019 at 11:00 AM at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Bennington located at 108 School St. Bennington, Vermont.

For the past several years, Jim and his family have benefited immensely from the kind and caring staff of Bennington Project Independence (BPI), where he went for adult day care three afternoons a week. In lieu of flowers, a donation to BPI in Jim's memory will be greatly appreciated.

Bennington Project Independence
614 Harwood Hill Rd.
Bennington, VT 05201

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James I. Seeger

October 8, 1943 — March 8, 2019

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