James Zrimsek

James Zrimsek, beloved son, brother, uncle, friend, colleague and chosen family member of many, many people – passed away in Atlantic Highlands, N.J. on July 29, 2024, having just turned 64.
Jim was born on July 4th, 1960, in the northern suburbs of Chicago, Illinois and grew up, one of four Zrimsek kids. This date proved to be auspicious – Jim somehow channeled all of the celebratory, positive energy of Independence Day into the very essence of his being. Without a doubt, Jim was one of the most joyous souls on the planet and if you were lucky enough to know him you were quickly captivated by his quick wit and hilarity.
After high school in Lincolnshire, Jim stayed close to home, attending and graduating from NIU in DeKalb in 1984 with a BA in English Lit. This was followed by Jim’s Chicago period. In the Windy City, Jim immersed himself in the punk rock music scene, attending dozens of shows and concerts throughout Chicagoland. In his first jobs, Jim put his English degree to work as an editorial assistant and writer, at several companies and then at the AMA. Jimbo, as he was affectionately known, had by then become something of a social butterfly, accumulating a large network of friends who, like him, were voracious in their appetite for alternative music, theater and films. At the same time, Jim suffered no fools.
By the early ‘90s Jim was eager to try something new and, with his two roommates, wrote and produced a two-act comedy play, Suffering Fools. Feeling he had successfully lived Chicago, Jim decided he was ready for something bigger and set off to NYC in 1998.
In NYC, Jim made something of a career change and quite by happenstance, wound up as a copywriter in an industry he never imagined himself in, pharmaceutical advertising. Like some accidental career choices, this served Jim better than he initially expected. For the following 25+ years, Jim flourished professionally, as a copywriter and then creative director at some of the top healthcare ad agencies – including Havas, Saatchi Wellness.
By his 40s, Jim’s passion for pop culture reached its zenith. Jim’s brain was a marvel, and his memory was like an IBM mainframe. Name any film from any year since the talkies, and Jim could rattle off every cast member and every major award it had ever won. Or name an Oscar, any Oscar for any year, and Jim could name its winner. When this was pointed out as a “not to be believed” talent, Jim would always add the caveat, with some humility, that his knowledge did not include the Oscars given out for technical achievement.
Jim was a lover of music, movies and Broadway, but most of all he loved to travel. He went on countless trips with many friends across the country and all over the world. Yet as far as he traveled, Jim would always make it back to see his family at Christmastime and always made sure he was there for his friends’ milestone celebrations.
Jim above all was a true and loyal friend. And truly one of the smartest, most hilarious people you could ever meet. Anyone who had the honor of being called his friend, knew it. Anybody who knew Jimbo knew that he was down for anything. Jim was the ultimate box checker and check boxes he did.
His friends will be gathering to remember him the weekend of September 13th in NYC. Specifics of location and date that weekend to follow.

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