James Roy Schofield, 64

Published 7:46 am Wednesday, October 18, 2017

James Roy Schofield, 64, died while on an afternoon stroll on Friday, Oct. 6, 2017, in Weslaco, Texas.

Jim was born on Aug. 16, 1953, in Spring Green, Wisconsin, to Gene C. and Margaret (Collies) Schofield. He grew up in Spring Green and graduated from high school in Austin, Minnesota, in 1971. At Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota, Jim earned the bachelor’s degree, with a major in physics, in 1976. He was a member of the nation’s most prestigious honor society, Phi Beta Kappa.

Jim spent his career in San Francisco as a highly respected computer programmer/analyst. Among his employers were Rand Information Systems, IBM, the University of California Berkeley, Pacific Bell, and AT&T. In 1989 IBM awarded Jim its Outstanding Technical Achievement Award. He retired in 2010 and had lived since then in Texas.

Jim is survived by his sisters, Janet Schofield of Mercedes, Texas, and Barbara (Jim) Patterson of Anchorage, Alaska; his nieces and nephews, Matt (Cori) Patterson, Brian (Ashley) Patterson, Roslan (Kristin) Schofield, Aslinda (Reza) Daneshmand, and Rosly Schofield; and his grandnieces and grandnephews, Lela Patterson, and Martin and Sofia Schofield. He was preceded in death by his parents, Gene Schofield and Margaret Schofield Tverberg.

Jim had an eclectic taste in music, from Merle Haggard to Taj Mahal and Junior Brown. He shaped his travel around concerts, music festivals, and poker games. He loved the poetry of Charles Bukowski, his Rio cowskin boots, and his maroon Corvette. Loyal and generous to family and friends, skeptical about the influence of computers on society and human relations, well-read, energetic in conversation, and possessed of a distinctive sense of humor, he will be missed by all who knew and loved him.

Cremation has occurred. Burial will be private. Memorials are preferred to St. Labre Indian School, Ashland, Montana 59004 (Donor Toll Free Number 866-753-5496).