The first time I met Jim in person, we were attending a meeting to establish a new workgroup at the University. We happened to be wearing identical green pants. Before anything else, he looked at me and said, “It’s a relief that we have identified an unofficial uniform trouser for the team.”
That was Jim. He could make people comfortable without making himself the center of attention. His humor was quick, but never at someone else’s expense. For a man who knew so much and had accomplished so much, he carried himself with remarkable humility.
Dr. Jim Ruble passed away earlier this week. I’m still trying to wrap my head around that. It is difficult to accept that there will not be another meeting, another conversation, or another perfectly timed joke.
Jim was a pharmacist, an attorney, and an educator. He devoted much of his life to the difficult questions where healthcare, law, and ethics meet. His biography is full of accomplishments, but those only tell part of his story.
What I will remember most is how he treated people.
He was brilliant without needing to prove it. He was funny without being cruel. He had the kind of humility that put others at ease rather than making them feel small.
His passing has made the fragility of life feel very close. We make plans, fill our calendars, and assume there will be another conversation. Usually, there is. This time, there won’t be, and that hurts.
I’m grateful I got to know Jim and work alongside him. I only wish we’d had more time.