James M.

Funny, but quiet; interested, yet reserved; dedicated, confident, and just a little bit mysterious, all at the same time. This, without a doubt, is James M.

James grew up with his four siblings in Clintonville, Ohio. At 19, just a year post-high school, he was drafted to the U.S. Army, where he trained for 6 months and then spent 15 months in Korea. Finishing his 21 months of service threw him into a world of change; old jobs and new adventures were thrust upon him without any semblance of choice. No longer the teenager he was before, he knew he needed an escape.

Ross Laboratories gave him his position back in their mailing department, but even after landing the highest level job there, James wasn’t satisfied. From computer coding in a computer operator position to running a makeshift real estate company with his friend, he tried it all, exploring every nook and cranny of Columbus along the way.

This isn’t to say it was easy; James took time to wind his way through life, taking up nearly every pastime you could think of. At the age of 31, he decided to try out downhill skiing, eventually landing in Switzerland to put his skills to the test. Next—at the age of 49, no less—, he became a black belt in taekwondo. The actual belt only took him two years, but he stuck with it for six. Lastly, he’s an unofficial pilot. Classes at The Ohio State University led him to a personal trainer, where he was finally able to take his first solo flight in 1984.

Now, he has spent most of his life in auto restoration at his self-owned car shop. Deep in his garage, just off of 5th Avenue, he handles nearly every type of vehicle you could imagine. From his favorite piece, the ‘61 Mercedes, to his personal ride, an ‘89 Saab, he knows cars like the back of his hand.

Katie Beaumont (At Home by High’s Executive Director) can attest, adding that “his shop is just as low-key as he is.” James met Katie back in 2017, when she had only just kickstarted the organization. Katie was searching for volunteers, and ended up finding James out of a community needs assessment based in AHBH’s current service area.

Ever the hard worker, James proved his dedication to AHBH during the pandemic. Due to COVID-19, many of the food banks that support our members were limited to those with cars to transport them. As such, James borrowed a van every month, loading and delivering food with Katie. Though the two completed these deliveries entirely on their own, James didn’t stop there. Taking inspiration from his restoration techniques, he decided to re-paint one of the dollies that they loaded the food with, wanting AHBH to look as professional as possible.

On top of this, he became—and still is—the sole caretaker of one of his dearest friends. James continues to throw himself into any and all situations where help might be needed, demonstrating his loyalty and empathy again and again.

When asked about his favorite experiences with AHBH, in typical James fashion, he said he “can’t put it down to just one moment.” There are certain things he enjoys, like our North Market Happy Hours, for example—the source of a few wonderful walks down memory lane, speaking with the rest of our members about Columbus through the 70s-90s. Most of the time, however, he doesn’t dwell on the sentimental, preferring to move forward rather than look back.

When James isn’t volunteering, you can find him playing pickleball at the Milo-Grogan Recreation Center, golfing, or painting. As he spends much of his time at the auto-restoration garage, he has found different creative outlets to engage himself with. Using sheet metal and automotive paint, he creates abstract art pieces that not only use up excess materials, but also beautify his space.

James stays busy, but if you manage to pin him down for a game of pickleball or a drive around town, you’ll see what a thoughtful—albeit no-nonsense—guy he is. Here At Home by High, we are incredibly grateful for his contributions, both as a member and volunteer, and we sincerely hope that he stays with us for many years to come.