Jim Foote

James Bradley Foote, age 68, passed away peacefully at home on July 27, 2024, following a battle with cancer. 

Jim was born in Cambridge, MA, on March 30, 1956, to William and Marilyn (Pompa) Foote, who returned to their home town of Aurora, IL, when Jim was two years old. Growing up in Aurora, he attended Holy Angels School and West Aurora High School, later furthering his education at Harvard College and Harvard Business School. 

Following graduation from HBS, Jim began his career in the finance department of Rockwell International, then headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA, but soon transitioned into compensation and benefits roles within human resources. He subsequently brought his expertise in this area to Rockwell’s Collins Defense Communications (Cedar Rapids, IA), Motorola (Schaumburg, IL), and Aetna (Hartford, CT).

Jim married his wife Gail in 1982, sharing almost forty-two years of life together. They were blessed with two sons, Tom and Dan, and Jim’s family and home were the focus of his life. He was truly the pater familias, leading, teaching, and protecting his wife and children, and later delighting in his grandchildren, Nate, Alex, Lily, and Katie. Jim’s devotion to family was also extended to care for his own parents and close connections with his siblings, nieces, and nephews.

The lives of those in Jim’s family were enriched by Jim’s wide-ranging intellectual interests. A continual subscriber to Sky & Telescope from his early teens, he had a deep knowledge of and passion for astronomy; he would set the alarm for the middle of the night so that he could observe specific astronomical alignments and was delighted to witness the total solar eclipse in 2017. Similarly, he was deeply interested in technology and engineering. An art history class that he audited during his college years fostered an avid life-long interest in the fine arts, and Jim was widely read, particularly in classical literature (he had his favorite translations) and history. On more than one occasion, Jim would lead Gail, Tom, or Dan through a museum exhibit, describing the underlying science or history referenced by the exhibit, and in the process gathering a following of other museum-goers who were following his narration. 

Despite a demanding work schedule, Jim never failed to find time to support and mentor his sons. At various times he coached youth soccer, basketball, and baseball, and when Tom and Dan were in Indian Guides and Cub Scouts, he helped them to build countless derby cars. When Tom and Dan moved on to Boy Scouts, Jim took a leadership role in (Barrington) Troop 21, eventually acting as Committee Chair, and attended almost every troop camping trip for several years.

In the early 2000s, Jim decided to begin a structured running program to improve his health. This program developed into a project to complete a half-marathon in each of the fifty states, a goal which he completed in 2017 when he ran the Maui Half-Marathon. During the several years that it took to complete this project, Jim ran in large city races and small local races, explored various parts of the country, and felt that he came back enriched by each opportunity.

Jim was a man of quiet but strong faith. A life-long Catholic, he included theological and church history in his readings, and by his faithful example of regular devotion helped to inspire the religious growth of his family. That faith supported Jim and his family during the trials of his illness during the past two years, and we take comfort in the knowledge of the resurrection of our Lord and his mercy toward all.

Jim is survived by his wife Gail, sons Thomas (Sarah) Foote of Woodbury, MN, and Daniel Foote of Barrington, as well as four grandchildren, Nathaniel, Alexander, Elizabeth and Katherine Foote, all of Woodbury, MN. He is also survived by his mother, Marilyn Foote, and his siblings Laura (Brian) Hunger; David (Kelly) Foote; and Sharon (Nelson Medal) Heckel. He was preceded in death by his father, William Foote.

A visitation for Jim will be held from 9:30 AM until the funeral Mass at 11 AM on Monday, August 5 at St. Anne Catholic Community, 120 Ela St., Barrington, IL. A graveside service will take place at 11:00 AM the following day at Mount Olivet Catholic Cemetery in Aurora, IL.

Jim organized our family charitable giving around the corporal works of mercy and gifts that support our church and our family values. Persons who wish to make a charitable donation in lieu of flowers might direct their donations to St. Anne Catholic Community, St. Moses the Black Food Pantry (in Chicago), or Aid for Women.