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Jim Delmonico was many things but when asked to reflect upon his life I would first remark that it was always a unique and invigorating experience to be in his presence. Jim had a marvelous wit and his impersonations of colleagues were perfect, funny and always well meaning. He was a raconteur and his ruminations were wonderful whether true to the facts or purposefully fictional. His stories were so well told that you were left guessing and often they carried a pay load. Jim spoke of Up State New York in a language and flair much like Pete HamilI writes about New York City. I often thought Jim might have loved being in front of the camera or microphone, but I don’t think he would ever admit that.
Jim viewed his radio and television stations as an extension of himself. He took the business personally and with a joy and loyalty only matched by his love for his native Syracuse. It is ironic that he never managed stations there, but in Albany where he did, Jim spoke of his friends not as titans but as neighbors, mothers, fathers and folks who worked with their hands. He viewed the audience in the same fashion and Jim was able to parlay that empathy into a on-air photo copy of the market. If Jim owned a grocery story he would have managed it the same way.
The list of Jim’s contributions, honors and accomplishments are legion and I will leave that chronology to others. However, I will remember him for his wonderful stories so many of which revealed fundamental truths and life lessons. It was a privilege to be in Jim’s presence because all you needed to do was listen!
