Dancesatmoonrise has passed away

[mattpayne11]

I'm very saddened to hear this news. Jim was an influential member of this site and he contributed in a number of areas. Personally, I enjoyed his photography the most.

I was unaware of his fight against cancer and I'm glad that he was able to experience so much of the mountains before succumbing to this illness.

Rest In Peace, Jim. You will be missed.

Amen bro.

Damn IT.

Jim and I climbed a few times at Red Rocks Open Space. He was a climbing God as far as I'm concerned. I loved the few moments I got to spend with him and Matt Bruton and Micah Morgan climbing up those red rocks. Great belayer. Great guy. Great photographer.

[kumo1341]

Rest in peace Jim.. Only had a chance to hike with Jim up Redcloud and Sunshine last year, he was an extraordinary, positive and strong climber. We will miss you! -max

[mtnview]

One of my favorite winter wallpapers. See you in the resurrection Jim. 1 Corinthians ch 15. Could be very soon!



Rest in peace
Allan A

[USAKeller]

My heart sank to my stomach when I read this news this morning. I'm grateful to have known Jim and found his enthusiasm for life inspiring. I will certainly miss his contributions to the site and community. All my prayers to his family and friends - he will be missed.

[susanjoypaul]

It’s no secret that Jim and I had our ups and downs, but we always talked it out, and I respected him for that. He was a passionate, and a compassionate, being, and his passions weren’t always in line with everyone else’s and that’s usually where the rifts would begin. But if you’re going to go through life worried about what other people think, or who you’re going to piss off, you might as well just give up. Jim lived his life his way, and the funny thing is, he really did care what other people thought, regardless. He cared deeply about others.

I was so glad to have the opportunity to visit Jim in the hospice a couple of weeks ago. He was making things right with people, saying all those things that he did not want left unsaid. Death, he said, had given him focus, and he was focused on what was really important. There wasn’t much time left, and the time he did have was constantly interrupted, mostly by people checking in on him. It was a hospital.

I apologized to him for being a shitty friend, told him I should have been better and I wasn’t proud of that. Told him how glad I was to have the opportunity to tell him how I felt about him, now, especially after losing so many other people in my life, and not having that opportunity, not taking that opportunity. Because, really, it’s our responsibility to be decent, and to let people know, in words or in other ways, how much we care. We shouldn’t wait until someone dies to be nice to them.

We talked about Steve, and about Terry, and about how hard it had hit everyone, and how so many of us wished we had said something nice before they were gone. I asked Jim if he was going to write something up for 14ers.com, to let his friends know what was going on with him, and to let them share their feelings with him. I told him it would be an awesome opportunity for people to tell him how they felt, before he was gone. Jim thought about it for a minute.

“But what if I write it and nobody says anything. What if nobody cares?”

I couldn’t believe he would think that, told him everyone would care, everyone would want to tell him how much they cared and it would be good for him to hear that, now.

“Well, I’ll think about it. Maybe I will. But I might not.”

Jim talked about his life, and about climbing, and about his cat, part domestic, part mountain lion, who he had lost after many years of companionship. He talked to me about his photography and gave me some tips on Photoshop. He told me that he wanted to write a book. It was one of those things he meant to do, really, really, wanted to do, and now there wasn’t time.

We talked about the cancer, and the sickness, and the pain. I hoped that he would not have to suffer much longer.

I gave him a hug and was shocked at how thin he had become. His face was still so strong and animated, and his hands and feet were big and muscular, but his body was so thin.

I gave him a card. “This is Beatrice,” it said, and showed a picture of a young, buxom blonde nurse, “she’s come to give you your medicine.” Inside the card, it said, “And this is Agnes, she’s come to give you a sponge bath.” You can imagine what Agnes looked like. “Life isn’t fair,” it said. I imagined that Beatrice was Jim’s life, and the cancer was Agnes, and no, life wasn’t fair. Life could really suck.

We talked about a personal message I had written in the card.

You were bigger than life, Jim.

“I liked being bigger than life,” he said.

You were faster, and smarter, and more daring that most of us.

He smiled.

And maybe some of us were just a little bit jealous.



Rest in peace, Jim. Or not. Rest however you want to rest. You’re going to do it your way, anyway, and no one can stop you.

[Mountainspirit]

RIP Jim - grace and peace to family, friends, and all who mourn. You will be missed

[sunny1]

I had noticed an odd silence on the forum this winter from Jim.
Winter 14ers were his passion.
I am very sad to hear of his illness and passing.

RIP Jim. Wishing his family and friends comfort and peace.

[BostonBD]

I never met Jim like many others here. But, he answered many questions I had and we shared allot in photography. Jim was passionate about everything and was inspirational. I will greatly miss his humor, trip reports and photos. God bless and RIP Jim

[ClimbStewart]

I've known Jim for quite a few years and we've had some disagreements about climbing ethics and such, but we still remained friends since we agreed to disagree. Anyway, I had some great long talks with Jim over the past month or so and we resolved a lot of things. So sorry to see my friend pass on but I know he was at peace.

Here is a blog post I just wrote at my Climbing site at About.com about Jim DiNapoli... http://climbing.about.com/b/2014/03/29/ ... cancer.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I wrote another post about Jim back on March 8, but didn't include his last name to preserve his privacy. Here is a link to it http://climbing.about.com/b/2014/03/08/ ... e-gods.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Jim made a generous bequest to the Pikes Peak Climbers Alliance (PPCA), a climbing activist group for the Pikes Peak region that I am currently involved in getting started along with other local climbers. Jim loved climbing at the Garden of the Gods and wanted to make sure that our unique local area will continue to be well taken care of.

Thanks for your legacy Jim and for your friendship. See you on the other side of the mountain....

[bonehead]

I only knew of Jim through this forum.
Especially from what he posted in the Music thread.
Always tasteful, relevant and real.
Easy to see a man's soul through the music he loves.
Rest in Peace.
Life is a fleeting gift.

[Jeff Valliere]

I am shocked and saddened to hear of this news. I don't recall having met Jim in person, but we occasionally corresponded online and shared a mutual respect for one another, but it has been years since we have communicated. I always enjoyed his reports and especially his photography, he certainly had a gift. When my wife asked how old Jim was last night, I guessed mid to late 40's. Some of this was just not knowing him in person, but most of it was based on the way he lived his life so fully, not to mention his speed and efficiency in the hills. 59 is still way too young, so unfair. I am giving my daughters extra hugs and kisses this morning.

[barbiesue53]

Jim's TR are so full of his love and his ability to share the beauty that he was able to capture. I never met him, but was always blessed to read and learn from his stories. Some of us here are allowed to say we are cancer survivors....some of us here have sat with family/friends and walked that last mile with them before they met their Father and given new, clean bodies. A challenging/tough disease. Jim has his new body, and views more beauty now than we can only imagine seeing here. Prayers to family and friends.