James Thompson Fudge

James “Jim” Thompson Fudge, 93, died peacefully on March 22, 2018 at Paradise Village Retirement Community, National City, CA.

Jim was born January 11, 1925 in Elmira, New York, to Leonard William and Mabel Burt Fudge. Upon graduating from Thomas Edison High School in 1943 he was inducted into the U.S. Navy and served for the duration of the war, taking part in the invasion of Normandy on D-Day aboard the USS LST-54. He was honorably discharged in 1946.

Jim received his BA from Westminster College in New Wilmington, PA, and his Master’s in Vocal Music from the University of Michigan. In 1952 he began his teaching career, first at Fort Hays Kansas State College, then at the University of Wichita, teaching voice and opera. In 1954 he married Irene Zerger of Kansas, who was completing her Master’s in music at Northwestern University. In 1955 the couple moved to New York where Jim studied at the Julliard School of Music and then became a member of the Robert Shaw Chorale touring group. During the summer the couple took part in Arundel Opera Theater in Kennebunkport, Maine, where Jim sang roles and Irene was a vocal coach. He also studied voice and advanced choral conducting at various times at the Aspen, Colorado Music Festival and School.

In 1956 Jim joined the faculty at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks where he taught, directed various choral groups, and founded the university’s Opera Workshop. Sons Jim (1957) and Tom (1960) were born during this time. He began a doctoral program in Choral Literature at the University of Iowa during the summers; he eventually took a position as Associate Professor of Music at Grinnell College in Iowa, where he was soon promoted to Professor. He remained at Grinnell for the rest of his career, retiring in 1990 as Professor Emeritus.

After retirement Jim and Irene moved to San Diego to be near son Tom and his growing family. Jim continued with his music, singing joyfully in the Chancel Choir of First United Methodist Church of San Diego and in the Masterworks chorus. He is remembered by family and friends for his kindness, his patience, his sense of humor, his musical talent and comic presence in musical theater, his beautiful baritone solo voice, and the generous example he set as a teacher. His impact as a choral director was reflected in the fact that members of the Varsity Bards Male Chorus during his time at the University of North Dakota organized a surprise party for his 83rd birthday in San Diego and spent two days singing and reminiscing with him and his family.

He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Irene; his son James, daughter-in-law Tamara and their children David and Anna; and his son Thomas, daughter-in-law Karen, and their children Nicholas and Sophie.