James F. Salzman

I was sent the obituary by my mother who has known Jim for some years. Jim always asked about me. I rented a house on Briggs Street in Stevens Point with Jim and a guy named Buck who had a Triumph 650 motorcycle, in the summer of 1974. Jim was a wonderful guy to know, I always envied his ability to strike up friendships so easily. I remember him as a tall rangy fellow with a good tan and a great smile. I''ve been in Minnesota as a forester for 32 years, never did see Jim after he graduated even though I looked for him once at the farmers market in Madison.I''m terribly sorry about your loss.

I was sent the obituary by my mother who has known Jim for some years. Jim always asked about me. I rented a house on Briggs Street in Stevens Point with Jim and a guy named Buck who had a Triumph 650 motorcycle, in the summer of 1974. Jim was a wonderful guy to know, I always envied his ability to strike up friendships so easily. I remember him as a tall rangy fellow with a good tan and a great smile. I''ve been in Minnesota as a forester for 32 years, never did see Jim after he graduated even though I looked for him once at the farmers market in Madison.I''m terribly sorry about your loss.

Hello Ann, Sarah and Jake, and hello Janine, Eric and Nichole- We were shocked to hear about Jim, and send our deepest sympathies. About 3 weeks ago Jim left me a message at work, while he was on his trip to Clearwater. I did not return his call, and regret having not done so. I will leave us all here with some memories of the great friendship I, my family, and all of the Krause''s from Beaver Dam have had for Big Jim and his family. I first met Jim in 1972 while at Stevens Point, Dave Meyer introduced Jim to me, we were all in sports at Point (Meyer was in both track and football, and I was in football). Jim of course carried on his skills in track and field there, being an outstanding discus thrower. I believe he still holds the high school record at Fall River in that event. It was at this time that several of us guys became lifetime friends, incuding Big Jim, Bob Twenge, Bob Manthei, and others. We experienced the fine arts of hunting, fishing, and Point Special beer. We all went our ways after Point and I went to grad school at Madison in biochemistry. Having my family living in Beaver Dam, Jim and I stayed in contact for those 5 years of grad school, with frequent times helping out on Saturdays at Farmers Market. In those early years, Jim had THE standout melons at the market, the cantalopes and the yellow dolls. In the latter years, the quality of his plants equated with his outstanding vegetables. Jim came to our wedding in 1980, and in 1984 we moved to St. Louis. We remember Jake, Sara, Ann and Jim visiting us there around 1990, and taking in some of the tourist sites! We also recall Eric and Nichole, along with Jim, stopping overnight from a trip from Texas to Wisconsin. I will always remember stopping out at the house and the greenhouse, always wanting to see what Jima and Jake were up to. I will always recall the fun of helping out in the fields with the vegetables, and loading the trucks for the market. There were times when my father, Ed, even helped out picking some crops! He also enjoyed those times. We would frequently take a ride out to Jim''s, and check out the deer at teh carrot field on the way. So, for 35 years of my life I have had the pleasure to have the friendship of Jim Salzman. I will cherish and enjoy those memories of my time with Jim and his family. Jim, Katie and Jonathan

Hello Ann, Sarah and Jake, and hello Janine, Eric and Nichole- We were shocked to hear about Jim, and send our deepest sympathies. About 3 weeks ago Jim left me a message at work, while he was on his trip to Clearwater. I did not return his call, and regret having not done so. I will leave us all here with some memories of the great friendship I, my family, and all of the Krause''s from Beaver Dam have had for Big Jim and his family. I first met Jim in 1972 while at Stevens Point, Dave Meyer introduced Jim to me, we were all in sports at Point (Meyer was in both track and football, and I was in football). Jim of course carried on his skills in track and field there, being an outstanding discus thrower. I believe he still holds the high school record at Fall River in that event. It was at this time that several of us guys became lifetime friends, incuding Big Jim, Bob Twenge, Bob Manthei, and others. We experienced the fine arts of hunting, fishing, and Point Special beer. We all went our ways after Point and I went to grad school at Madison in biochemistry. Having my family living in Beaver Dam, Jim and I stayed in contact for those 5 years of grad school, with frequent times helping out on Saturdays at Farmers Market. In those early years, Jim had THE standout melons at the market, the cantalopes and the yellow dolls. In the latter years, the quality of his plants equated with his outstanding vegetables. Jim came to our wedding in 1980, and in 1984 we moved to St. Louis. We remember Jake, Sara, Ann and Jim visiting us there around 1990, and taking in some of the tourist sites! We also recall Eric and Nichole, along with Jim, stopping overnight from a trip from Texas to Wisconsin. I will always remember stopping out at the house and the greenhouse, always wanting to see what Jima and Jake were up to. I will always recall the fun of helping out in the fields with the vegetables, and loading the trucks for the market. There were times when my father, Ed, even helped out picking some crops! He also enjoyed those times. We would frequently take a ride out to Jim''s, and check out the deer at teh carrot field on the way. So, for 35 years of my life I have had the pleasure to have the friendship of Jim Salzman. I will cherish and enjoy those memories of my time with Jim and his family. Jim, Katie and Jonathan

My heartfelt condolences to Jim''s family and to his extended market family. All of us at the Farmers'' Market were enriched by Jim''s presence and his oversized contributions to the flavor of the market experience. I had the good fortune of talking with Jim in the early morning period nearly every Saturday morning for several years. Jim never exactly stopped working...he was setting his stage while talking of his most current crops and that which was doing well and those things that were testing his skills. He loved his plants and relished his customer contacts and he was always ready to share his enthusiasm and his knowledge. Jim was a character of course...he was fun...it was exciting there at his corner. But he was also a real contributor to the Market and to the lives of all of us who were blessed to know him.

My condolences to Jim''s family and all who knew this really good guy. Jim was a farmer''s market icon... but also a fun-loving good friend to many, including me. I will miss him and his hearty hand-shake and laugh. We have all lost a fine man.

Our sympathy and warmest thoughts are with you now and in the days ahead.

It seems just like yesterday, although I''m sure now that it was a month or more now gone by, that Jim put his big-old-paw out there for a hearty handshake in front of the City County Building. We shared some thoughts, smiles, some yucks, and some talk of life''s next adventure that day, just as we always had. I don''t remember anymore for how long these exchanges had been taking place. Many years ago I featured Jim in a feature story I did for WISC-TV, but I know I enjoyed his company long before that. I was shocked to see his smiling face on the obit page, but the Santa hat did capture part of his soul. His spirit will be missed on Madison Farmers Market Saturdays and Wednesdays My condolences to all of Jim''s family. He was a good man, a very good man.

My heartfelt condolences to Jim''s family and to his extended market family. All of us at the Farmers'' Market were enriched by Jim''s presence and his oversized contributions to the flavor of the market experience. I had the good fortune of talking with Jim in the early morning period nearly every Saturday morning for several years. Jim never exactly stopped working...he was setting his stage while talking of his most current crops and that which was doing well and those things that were testing his skills. He loved his plants and relished his customer contacts and he was always ready to share his enthusiasm and his knowledge. Jim was a character of course...he was fun...it was exciting there at his corner. But he was also a real contributor to the Market and to the lives of all of us who were blessed to know him.

My condolences to Jim''s family and all who knew this really good guy. Jim was a farmer''s market icon... but also a fun-loving good friend to many, including me. I will miss him and his hearty hand-shake and laugh. We have all lost a fine man.

Our sympathy and warmest thoughts are with you now and in the days ahead.

It seems just like yesterday, although I''m sure now that it was a month or more now gone by, that Jim put his big-old-paw out there for a hearty handshake in front of the City County Building. We shared some thoughts, smiles, some yucks, and some talk of life''s next adventure that day, just as we always had. I don''t remember anymore for how long these exchanges had been taking place. Many years ago I featured Jim in a feature story I did for WISC-TV, but I know I enjoyed his company long before that. I was shocked to see his smiling face on the obit page, but the Santa hat did capture part of his soul. His spirit will be missed on Madison Farmers Market Saturdays and Wednesdays My condolences to all of Jim''s family. He was a good man, a very good man.

Our hearts and prayers go out to you and your family.

Please accept our condolences and sympathy at Jim''s passing. We will never forget his big smile and hearty "Hello!" everytime we saw him at the farmers market. He was always so busy with everyone, but found time to wave and ask how we were doing. We will miss him, but will hold the memories forever. We are sorry we could not make it to the visitation. Jim and Debbie Miller

I have known Jim for many, many years although we have lost personal touch over recent years as I have lived out of Wisconsin for some time now. My memories of Jim always start with his great sense of humor and warm, robust laughter. In high school we even dated a time or two. Whenever I returned home from college, I would always looked hopefully forward to running into Jim as a highlight of my weekend visit. My sincerest sympathies to all of his family. I know that he will be missed by many, many people. Know that you are all in my prayers as you mourn the loss of this fine man.

It has been my pleasure to be Jim Salzman''s friend for the better part of my adult life. I first encountered Jim at the Madison Farmer''s Market (didn''t most of us?), where his love for life and people and farming were the best amd most memorable part of the vibrant market scene that he helped to create. Whether it was working in the fields (where nobody, and I mean nobody, could keep up with Big Jim), or sitting over a beer philosophizing about life, Jim could always be counted on for two things: compassion and worldly wisdom. Jim was a master farmer but he would be the first to admit that he sometimes struggled with the business end of farming. He was also wise enough to understand that his connections with the fields and the greenhouses and the plants that he loved were far more important than the bottom line. With Jim''s passing there is a void in my life and in the lives of countless others, that will never be filled. He was a special human being and if the measure of a man''s life is the love that they bring into the world then Jim Salzman offered a model of a life well lived.

Our hearts and prayers go out to you and your family.

Please accept our condolences and sympathy at Jim''s passing. We will never forget his big smile and hearty "Hello!" everytime we saw him at the farmers market. He was always so busy with everyone, but found time to wave and ask how we were doing. We will miss him, but will hold the memories forever. We are sorry we could not make it to the visitation. Jim and Debbie Miller

I have known Jim for many, many years although we have lost personal touch over recent years as I have lived out of Wisconsin for some time now. My memories of Jim always start with his great sense of humor and warm, robust laughter. In high school we even dated a time or two. Whenever I returned home from college, I would always looked hopefully forward to running into Jim as a highlight of my weekend visit. My sincerest sympathies to all of his family. I know that he will be missed by many, many people. Know that you are all in my prayers as you mourn the loss of this fine man.

It has been my pleasure to be Jim Salzman''s friend for the better part of my adult life. I first encountered Jim at the Madison Farmer''s Market (didn''t most of us?), where his love for life and people and farming were the best amd most memorable part of the vibrant market scene that he helped to create. Whether it was working in the fields (where nobody, and I mean nobody, could keep up with Big Jim), or sitting over a beer philosophizing about life, Jim could always be counted on for two things: compassion and worldly wisdom. Jim was a master farmer but he would be the first to admit that he sometimes struggled with the business end of farming. He was also wise enough to understand that his connections with the fields and the greenhouses and the plants that he loved were far more important than the bottom line. With Jim''s passing there is a void in my life and in the lives of countless others, that will never be filled. He was a special human being and if the measure of a man''s life is the love that they bring into the world then Jim Salzman offered a model of a life well lived.