<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto">Thank you so much for the memorable story Carol and George. <div>With my love, </div><div>Isobel </div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br id="lineBreakAtBeginningOfSignature"><div dir="ltr">Isobel Bishop<div>Mob. 0412 129 425</div></div><div dir="ltr"><br><blockquote type="cite">On 5 Dec 2025, at 2:42 am, carol.walters--- via OE <oe@lists.wedgeblade.net> wrote:<br><br></blockquote></div><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><div class="yahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:16px;"><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">The following story was written by George Walters after we talked together about our memories of the Baumbach's when we lived and worked together.</div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">Jim Baumbach: A Westside Story</div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><div>
<p class="ydp42883416MsoNormal">By George Walters</p>
<p class="ydp42883416MsoNormal">It was a cold Chicago winter, 1977, and the old Westside
Bethany Seminary where the ICA colleagues lived to work in Fifth City was
suddenly without heat for the third time. All the stopgap solutions had not
worked on the ancient steam heating system. We were getting quotes on a new
system, which for an NGO budget were astronomical.</p>
<p class="ydp42883416MsoNormal">Jim had spoken to me several times about a treatment and
restoration system of the old system and pipes that his company sold around the
world and so we talked again and he said, “Let me show you what is possible.” <span> </span>I okayed a modest budget so he could go to
work.</p>
<p class="ydp42883416MsoNormal">We managed to clunk along for several days by wearing
sweaters and jackets, kept warm enough to work.<span>
</span>Suddenly after about a week, the heat was on everywhere. A knock on my
door and Jim was standing there smiling and saying, “come look.”</p>
<p class="ydp42883416MsoNormal">Down into the basement we went, and I could hear the roar of
the furnace as we approached and there it was – new pipes painted red, and a
series of drums of chemicals across the floor with tubing tied into new valves
with handles you could turn. He and our building super, Mike Ford, were beaming
from ear to ear as they explained to me the technology and the chemicals being
applied.</p>
<p class="ydp42883416MsoNormal">“This tank will begin to clean out the rust and corrosion
across the entire 5 story campus” he said. “This tank will prevent new build up
of corrosion” he added. “This big barrel will collect the corrosion which we
can then have hauled away. Mike will gradually increase the corrosion, removal
chemicals and increase the chemicals that prevent build-up. <span> </span>I will help him monitor.”</p>
<p class="ydp42883416MsoNormal">But then there was the long-term issue. It was still an old
system which could have other ailments. The chemicals were costly and would
need to be sustained to sustain the system. Jim just smiled and said, yes that
is all true, but we’ll tackle that next winter. I agreed. I’m not sure how the
rest of that winter got paid for, but I think I know. By the next winter, I was
gone and we soon left the old campus in favor of the Bethany Hospital’s
expansion plan. </p>
<p class="ydp42883416MsoNormal">Today as we mourn Jim’s passing, we all remember the
consummate professional he was, and the generous spirit he embodied as shown in
this one of many stories.</p></div><br></div></div><span>_______________________________________________</span><br><span>OE mailing list</span><br><span>OE@lists.wedgeblade.net</span><br><span>http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/oe-wedgeblade.net</span><br></div></blockquote></div></body></html>