Trending
2/8/1938 -- 5/6/2024
Jim was born Feb. 1938 in Yeagertown, PA to George and Phyllis Seibert and was a graduate of Lewistown High School where he played football and wrestled. He graduated from Shippensburg University where he met his wife, Vanda, with whom he had 3 sons. He taught high school math and coached wrestling in Havertown, PA. and was the proud coach of a state wrestling champion.
Jim refereed wrestling matches including for Overbrook School for the Blind and Pennsylvania School for the Deaf. While teaching and coaching, he obtained his master's in education degree from Temple University.
Jim moved from teaching to advocacy work with the Pennsylvania State Education Assoc. and eventually the National Education Association. This was during the beginnings of collective bargaining for teachers and Jim was at the forefront. The Upper Darby paper compared Jim to Henry Kissinger for Jim's work bargaining for teachers and the local police department who selected Jim to represent them.
From the Pennsylvania Education Association, Jim worked as the Executive Director of the San Jose, CA Education Assoc., then moved to Missouri as the State Exec. for Missouri NEA. His next move was to Atlanta as the Regional Manager for the ten southeastern states and Puerto Rico.
Jim's last role brought him to the state of Washington as the State Exec of the Washington Education Association. It was there he met his partner, Jeanne Strickland. He spent the last 14 years of his career continuing his goal of bettering the lives of teachers and paraprofessionals which in Washington involved multi local strikes in the early 1990's.
Retirement was spent wintering in Arizona, traveling to Europe and South America, driving across country to see family and enjoying his grandchildren. Jim was most proud that the 3 oldest are college graduates. He also golfed, fished in Alaska and loved wine tasting.
Jim passed away May 6, 2024, from complications due to heart surgery and dementia. He is preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Polly, and his wife, Vanda. He is survived by his sons Kirk ( Michelle), Mark ( Angie), and Eric, his grandchildren Allison, Vanda, Jade, Savanah, Alex and Mason, his partner Jeanne, her daughter Stacy. There will be no public memorial. The family will be gathering on Father's Day weekend which was planned as a final family get together as grandkids embark on their own lives. It will now be the family celebration of Jim's life. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Washington Education Association Children's fund.