Obituary

Jim Knox, Director of the University of Michigan Adaptive Technology Computing Site and one of the first consultants to help those with disabilities use computers, died Sunday at his home in Ann Arbor. He was 66.

One of the University's first computer whiz kids, Jim was invited to teach at Harvard University after he and a fellow graduate co-authored a paper on the first computer-oriented graphical geographic information system (GIS). Jim stayed in Ann Arbor and worked for the University of Michigan for more than 30 years. In the mid 1980's, in addition to working as Postmaster/Ombudsman/User Advocate for Information Technology Services, he established the adaptive technology computing site in the Undergraduate Library where students, staff and faculty with spinal cord injuries, visual and hearing impairments, dyslexia, carpal tunnel syndrome, and other disabilities have access to adaptive hardware, software and workstations. He even helped design special needs computer workstations. One model, the Ergopod, is in use at many computer work sites around campus. Countless students have credited him with their academic success.

Born in Battle Creek, Jim moved with his mother to Waukegan, Illinois, his parents' hometown, after his father was deployed to serve in World War II. He returned to Michigan to attend U-M, graduated in 1966 with a Bachelor's of science degree in forestry, and did graduate work in urban and regional planning before earning his master's degree from the School of Public Health.

A man of many interests, Jim's first love was music. He began listening to classical music in third grade, soon started studying the tuba, and in high school, spent a summer at Interlochen Center for the Arts. Much later in life, he switched to cello and eventually became good enough to play at a friend's wedding. Outgoing and soft-spoken, Jim was as dashing, fit and fun loving as he was erudite and serious minded. A longtime jogger and exerciser, he loved nature, fine food and wine, hiking and backpacking in the mountains of Colorado and the Pacific Northwest, and traveling in Europe, Asia and Africa. But his primary interest was people; he easily befriended strangers from every walk of life everywhere he went. Jim never lost his interest in forestry. His pride was an espaliered Kiefer pear tree, which he planted in 1999, shaping it with wire, carefully attaching each branch, and meticulously pruning it every spring and fall.

His loss will be felt keenly throughout Ann Arbor, Waukegan, and beyond. Jim is survived by his wife, Roberta; a brother, William; a sister, Linda Richards; and several aunts, nieces, nephews and cousins.