WALKING DOWN THE TRAIL: REMEMBERING JIM NUSSBAUM
Sometimes when you walk down the trail of life, you meet people who leave a lasting impression.
Over the years, I have been fortunate to meet many interesting and remarkable people. Some have been politicians, some business leaders, some veterans, some community leaders and some just good people who made a difference in the lives of others.
The recent death of my friend Jim Nussbaum caused me to stop and look back down that trail.
Jim Nussbaum, 87, of Greenwood Village, died peacefully Sept. 18 at his home with his family at his side. His funeral service was held Sept. 26 at Risen Christ Catholic Church in Denver.
Jim lived a remarkable life.
Born and raised in Appleton, Wisconsin, he became the first person in his family to attend and graduate from college. He earned a bachelor’s degree in English with highest honors from St. John’s University in Minnesota and later earned an MBA in marketing from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
He was a veteran of the Army National Guard and began his working life in sales. He eventually came to Colorado and entered residential real estate with Van Schaack and Co.
After 11 years with Van Schaack, Jim joined four colleagues in founding The Kentwood Company.
Five men started Kentwood, and Jim Nussbaum was one of them.
That small beginning became one of Colorado’s most respected real estate organizations. Jim remained active with Kentwood for decades. During a real estate career spanning more than 50 years, he participated in more than 2,800 closings and continued working at Kentwood almost until the end of his life.
But the numbers don’t tell the whole story about Jim Nussbaum.
Jim was a people person. He remembered people, remembered their stories and seemed genuinely interested in everyone he met.
And that brings me to some of the other people I have met while walking down my own trail.
One of the strongest connections to Jim and Kentwood for me is through Edie Marks, a legend in Colorado real estate who has worked with Kentwood for decades and worked alongside Jim Nussbaum.
Edie’s husband, Mort Marks, also was an important part of my newspaper trail. Mort was a columnist who shared my editorial page for 30 years. He was a good friend, and those three decades gave me the opportunity to know him well.
Mort was also a World War II veteran who earned a Silver Star for his service in the Battle of the Bulge.
But it is Edie who brings this story back to Jim and Kentwood.
Edie has been a legend in Colorado real estate for decades. She worked alongside Jim and knew him well. She once told me that Jim had a sign on his desk that said, “Remember to smile.”
That little sign may say as much about Jim Nussbaum as all the statistics about his career.
When I think about Edie and Mort Marks, I think about two remarkable people who became part of the history of Colorado and part of my own trail through the years.
I also remember talking with Bill Owens and his wife during the days when they were considering a run for governor. Bill eventually was elected governor of Colorado and served from 1999 through 2007.
Those memories are part of the trail, too.
That is what happens when you have been around Colorado for a long time. The names change, businesses change hands, governors come and go, but the relationships remain.
When I think about Kentwood, I don’t just think about a real estate company. I think about the five men who started it. I think about Jim Nussbaum and the career he built. I think about Edie and Mort Marks. And I think about the many people I have known through the years.
Jim’s obituary tells us about a man who accomplished a great deal professionally, but it also tells us about the person he was away from the office.
He loved his family. He loved to read and learn. He enjoyed the Broncos and Rockies, walking along the High Line Canal and traveling. He kept a gratitude journal and believed in helping others. He mentored people who sought his advice and was known for remembering small details about people he met.
He even carried two-dollar bills so he could give one to someone who performed a small kindness, simply to brighten that person’s day.
His faith was an important part of his life. He was a devout Catholic, attended Mass regularly and carried his faith with him wherever he traveled.
Jim also believed that a successful life should ultimately become a significant life — a life measured not only by what you accomplish, but by what you give to other people.
That may be the best way to remember him.
Every once in a while, someone comes along who deserves a special place in those memories.
Jim Nussbaum was one of those people.
So today, I tip my hat to Jim, to his family, to his Kentwood partners and associates, and to all the people whose lives he touched.
The trail goes on.
But we never forget the people we met along the way.