We are saddened to announce the passing of Citroënvie member Jim McCollum on November 20, 2016 peacefully in hospital after a courageous battle with cancer at age 74 years. Jim and his wife Elisabeth (Beth) lived in Manotick Ontario and Jim was also a long time member of the Ottawa Citroën Club.
Jim loved traveling and sending in pictures of old Citroens like this one Jim sent to us a year ago.
Jim recalled taking the picture about 16years ago on a cold and rainy miserable fall day – late October or early November when he was traversing an area of France called l’Areche. He somehow ended up down a country road. The scene of the tumble-down barn and the Fourgonette seemed to go along with the day. It’ along with a couple of others appear in our “a bit of patina” section of the website.
Jim’s favourite Citroën model was the 2CV. He owned this Charleston when he was in France (mainly) in 1988 for a couple of months.
The photo was taken in late September and, as you probably can tell from the buildings, is in either Normandie (close to Brittany) or in Brittany.
Back home in Manotick, Jim’s two 2CVs, one white and one blue, have been fixtures at Ottawa Citroën Club club gatherings for many years. In the early years of his participation with the club, he combined two of his great passions, hosting Citroën club members at the soaring club where Jim and Beth were instructors.
Jim is remembered as an intelligent and engaging person, with an enormous depth of knowledge in subject areas ranging widely from things like French linguistics, to Spanish literature, and economics.
Brother of John, Alice (John) and Louanne., Jim will be missed by his furry friends Dantès and Astérix. Those wishing may make memorial donations to the Ottawa Humane Society.
An obituary appears here. Beth is planning to do a commemorative gathering for Jim’s friends in springtime.
Jim was a huge part of our Ottawa club, and can’t be replaced.But better, he can be remembered, and his contributions and spirit will set an example and a goal for those of us left behind. Our thoughts are with you Beth (and Dantes and Asterix). Carry on as he would want.