Born in Seattle on February 5, 1938, the only child of Harold and Germaine (Santerre) Mohundro, Jim was embraced also by a group of aunts, uncles, and his parents’ friends. He traveled around the city by bus from a young age, going to the Seattle Rainiers batting practice whenever he could. He enjoyed being in theater productions at Lincoln High School in Seattle, graduating in 1956. He interrupted his college education at the University of Washington to join the U.S. Army, was stationed in Germany, and later returned to the UW for a degree in Economics. He worked in the home mortgage business and later for the City of Seattle for 30 years, teaming with non-profits to complete low-income housing projects. He was an instructor in real estate finance for several years at Bellevue College.
In retirement he shared his knowledge and love of movies in his film classes at Seattle’s Lifetime Learning Center and was enthusiastic about the work of the UCLA Film and Television Archive which has saved and restored so many older films. He also served on the board of the Association of Retired Seattle City Employees (ARSCE), wrote a movie column for the ARSCE newspaper, and was involved in the Alumni Association of Lincoln High School.
He died in Seattle on October 21, 2020 following a slow recovery from surgery. He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Anne Pohl Mohundro, his son Steven (Elizabeth) Mohundro, his daughter Leah (Jesse) Morris, and grandsons Raymond Armstrong, Theo Mohundro, and Joey Mohundro. He also leaves sisters-in-law Alice Graber, Helen Pohl, and Angela Blackwell and brothers-in-law John Pohl, Denis Pohl, and John Graber; nieces Leatha Pohl, Ula Pohl, Nyssa Pohl, Emilie Pohl, and Clare Blackwell, and nephews Ardin Pohl and Carl Graber. Also survived by second cousins Merilee McDowell, Bette Simons, and Danise Tarbert. He was predeceased by his brother-in-law Richard (Ricky) Pohl.
Jim was kind, open-minded, loyal, and generous, known for his wit and elaborate puns. He enjoyed discussing Seattle history and loved British humor; devoured books, especially mysteries and thrillers; and appreciated all sorts of movies. He eagerly traveled several times to Europe with Anne, and was avid about exploring London. He loved his family, friends, colleagues, daily grocery shopping where he learned cooking tips from employees, theater, classical music, art prints, photography, infield plays, and cats. He was touched by stories of heroism and tenderness. To honor Jim’s memory, watch a pre-1960 American movie or read any British spy story.
An online memorial organized by Plymouth Church Seattle UCC is scheduled for Saturday, December 5 at 2:00 pm PST. Additional information will be on the Co-op Funeral Home of People’s Memorial (funerals.coop/obituaries) where you are encouraged to share your stories and memories of Jim.