Renaissance Man, also called Universal Man, Italian Uomo Universale, an ideal that developed in Renaissance Italy from the notion expressed by one of its most-accomplished representatives, Leon Battista Alberti (1404–72), that “a man can do all things if he will.” The ideal embodied the basic tenets of Renaissance humanism, which considered man the centre of the universe, limitless in his capacities for development, and led to the notion that men should try to embrace all knowledge and develop their own capacities as fully as possible.

Jim is my living, thinking, doing, sharing, loving embodiment of a Renaissance Man.  He does many things well.  He has very high standards for himself, and high expectations of others.  He commits himself to what he’s doing, completely, with all he has and knows.  He is very goal driven but endeavors to enjoy the preparation and process as much as the end results.

In May of 1997, Jim was a sole practitioner architect.  We had been married for 17 years and our two sons were ages 10 and 6.  I’m not quite sure what motivated him to write down the following instructions to himself, but I do know that he has carried a small piece of paper with this personal mantra printed on it in his wallet ever since that day in May 1997.

You can do anything you want to by doing the following:

1. Have a desire to learn all you can
2. Observe, read and learn the principles of how things work
3. Use common sense in applying those principles to what you're doing
4. Have the patience to do things right
5. DO NOT BE AFRAID TO FAIL!

Jim has only shared this creed with a few select people.  Most people who know him have no idea that he carries this physically with him but they are very aware of the things he does every day that prove that he puts these principles into action.  He is a man of both words and deeds.  I admire him and am honored to be his partner.

In future posts in this space of the website, we will highlight Jim’s thinking, observations, special interests and featured projects.  You’ll come to appreciate the breadth and depth of his skills and see how they have brought his interests in particular concepts into the real world up on Runaway Ridge!