Jim Farmer 1934-2024 - A Brief Appreciation

My friend Jim Farmer, a key actor in the initial uPortal project, Coordinator of the Sakai Educational Partners Program, and former Sakai Foundation Treasurer died recently at the age of 89. To write a full appreciation of Jim’s life would take several volumes; his life was both fascinating and full. Jim made a very significant contribution to the adoption and development of open source software in education, to uPortal, Jasig, Sakai, and to Apereo. His formal roles only scratch the surface of that contribution, however. Jim was a profoundly effective networker on an international scale, often discerning potential interests and focal points for collaboration before the protagonists themselves, and facilitating introductions and conversations. By background a mathematician, Jim firmly believed in marshalling evidence to establish and support strategy and direction of travel. His powers of persuasion were considerable, but never forced. Often a raised index finger followed by the phrase ”By the way …” presaged some particularly telling point of evidence or illustration in a conversation or debate. Above all, Jim’s modesty and reticence to engage in self promotion was a key element of his role as an effective facilitator and trusted counsellor. Speaking with Jim regularly was — in the very best sense of the word — an education. He will be missed.



Photo: Ian Dolphin