In Memoriam – Jim Harper, Riverstone Art Teacher

Update: Many of you have written to ask how you can help the Harper family during this difficult time. Last year, a GoFundMe page was started to help support his medical treatments; it has now been converted to provide further financial support for the Harper family.

We are deeply saddened to inform the Riverstone community that Jim Harper passed away on Sunday, July 19. As many of you know, Jim was battling cancer. He spent his last days at home surrounded by his family.

Jim began working at Riverstone in the fall of 2002, and everyone would agree he was an icon of what the school embodies. He loved to teach, yet he taught more than Middle and High School art, design technology, personal projects, extended essays, and outdoor leadership. He taught students the power of a good story, to be true, to follow what they believe, to tap into the creativity we all possess, and to speak their minds. It is safe to say that no faculty member has ever been more beloved among Riverstone’s students and alumni than Jim Harper was. Without fail, Jim was the first person alumni wanted to see when they came back to campus each year.

Students emerged from Jim’s art classes with a variety of artistic skills and techniques; perhaps more importantly they learned how to take risks, express themselves, and gained confidence in their own modes of expression.

Jim will be remembered as a legendary outdoor trip leader. Whether coaching colleagues on how to properly row a boat, teaching students how to fly fish, fixing broken gear, or resorting to eating condiment packets when the rationed food ran out at the end of a trip, “Harper stories” were plentiful.

Jim was stubborn in the best sort of way; he never gave up on implementing a school-wide recycling program. Jim worked closely with the Green Team to build and grow a community garden and fill outdoor spaces on our campus with local plants.

Jim helped so many students access and understand the natural world. We’ll miss his fishing and hunting stories, his laughter, and his ability to help us translate experiences and feelings into art. We know that Jim would want us all to get out there and take a hike, have a picnic, swim in a river, build something and explore.

On behalf of our school, we thank Jim for helping open up worlds to students, colleagues and parents alike. Our lives are so much richer for having had Jim with us for the time that we did.

More information on how to pay tribute to Jim will be published soon; in the meantime, please add your personal stories or favorite memories of Jim in our comments.