For a man who was born, and died, within 180 miles, Robert James 'Jim' Maroe sure saw a lot of the world.

Born in Chicago, Illinois on May 24, 1952, Jim was the youngest of four children of Emmett and Pearl (Keith) Maroe. Jim's talents, curiosity, and intellect, were evident from an early age. As a teen, he discovered a love of music, that would stay with him throughout his life. He played clarinet in his school band, and when he wasn't playing music, was listening to an eclectic array of artists, but especially jazz favorites Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong.

As befits a man of many interests, Jim held a wide variety of jobs throughout his life. He was a sportswriter in his youth, and he liked to tell the story of how he searched for new ways of describing athletic victories. One team 'topped' the other, he might write. Or the Buffaloes 'trampled' the opposition, while the Tigers 'clawed' their opponents. Finally, his editor pulled him aside. "Kid," he said, "just say they beat 'em."

Jim began his collegiate studies at Indiana University, in Bloomington, in 1970. While there, he was hired to edit a conservative literary magazine called 'The American Spectator,' a magazine that is still published today. He edited columns for writers who, at the time, were little-known outside of conservative circles, but who today are famous names—Bill Kristol and George Will. It would be his last foray into conservative politics and commentary. By then, his liberal politics and worldview, were well established.

Indiana could not contain Jim's ambitions, so he moved to Chicago, in the mid-70's, where, as usual, he quickly surrounded himself with a devoted circle of artists, writers, actors and musicians, most of whom moonlighted as waiters. It was in bars, cafes and restaurants, often after closing time, where one really got to know Jim. In the exhaustion, and exaltation, that comes at the end of a challenging workday, drinks are poured, and thoughts and feelings are shared with a trusted coterie of close pals.

Jim pursued a range of projects in the first decade of the 21 ^st century. He received his bachelors degree (Summa Cum Laude) from UMass, earned his Masters in journalism from NYU, founded Maroe Technology—a technology training firm, and then, drawing on contacts he'd made in the technology training business, he took a job with one of New York's leading law firms, Sullivan & Cromwell, where he was their resident technology expert in Microsoft Office. If you wanted to know anything about software, Jim was your guy. In 2000, he wrote a 600-page training manual for Microsoft Word, published by Simon & Schuster. When Jim said he "wrote the book" on Microsoft Word, he was being literal.

It was also at about this time, in 2001, that Jim was first diagnosed with kidney cancer. But he didn't let cancer slow him down. After successful surgery to remove one of his kidneys, Jim pursued various projects, always writing, editing, creating. With a collaborator, Jim wrote songs that his writing partner performed in her cabaret act, and which the two of them later recorded as a demo for Nashville music publishers, but alas, could find no takers. One of the songs featured what must be one of the great song titles of all time, and particularly apt for the age in which we live, 'I'm Hot, You're Bothered.'

With so many talents, and so little time, it's not surprising that Jim left uncompleted projects in his wake, including 'Trump! the Musical.' Past projects that will never see light include a parody of the Studs Terkel book 'Working,' called 'Shirking,' and Jim's version of the Tonight Show 'Carnac' sketch, in which Jim would hold an imaginary envelope to his head and intone  "The USS Constitution, Price-Pfister, and Trent Lott" Then, the punchline…"Name a frigate, a spigot, and a bigot."

Jim never stopped trying to be a better man. It was what drove him to excel academically, professionally, and personally. That's what drew him to personal growth work with The Mankind Project. MKP is an organization that helps men lead lives of honesty and integrity, and Jim took to the work immediately. He was elected to coordinate integration groups in the Indianapolis Community, welcoming men to the work. He was also active in the Rainbow Warriors, an offshoot of MKP, for gay, bi- and transgender men.

While he lived on both coasts, and traveled widely, including to Europe, Asia, South America and Australia, Jim's heart was in New York. Jim loved the energy of the city. He enjoyed everything New York had to offer—including shows, restaurants, and museums. To visit Jim in New York, was to have one of the most passionate tour guides the city ever knew.  Rockefeller Center, the Brooklyn Bridge, the MOMA—all were on the itinerary, and Jim spoke at length, and lovingly (and sometimes a little critically as well) about each. And the restaurants! Jim knew where to take you, and what you should—and shouldn't—order.

It was while he worked for Sullivan, in 2013, that Jim had a recurrence of the cancer that would take his life. Recovery, and further surgery, forced him to leave his job, and his beloved New York, and move closer to friends and family in Michigan. As his condition progressed, his sister, Marcia, moved into his home in Whitehall, to help care for him. On the last night of his life, Sept. 16, 2018, Jim was joined by Marcia, and three of his closest friends for a dinner party. After dinner, the guests left, and moments later, Jim left as well.

Jim was predeceased by his parents, and his sister, Carol Collier.  He is survived by his sister, Marcia Conaghan, his brother Ross Maroe, his God-daughter Katy Conaghan, many nieces and nephews, and friends far too numerous to mention. Jim, a consummate dog lover, was also survived by his last best friend Minnie, who was at his side to the end.

In remembrance, Please send contributions to:
The Will Flores Fund
6327 Wade Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63139