Media Center Remembers Jim Burch

With the death last weekend of former Palo Alto Mayor Jim Burch, the community lost a passionate leader who spent the second half of his life volunteering and serving for the public good. At the Media Center, we lost a dedicated former Board member who helped us grow into what we are today.

Among his many contributions, Jim turned his passion for the environment into the Greenlight Earth Day Film Festival, an annual youth-oriented festival that encourages students to use film making to highlight environmental problems and solutions.

Upon hearing of his illness at the beginning of November, our Executive Director Annie Folger sent Jim the following letter thanking him for his service.

November 5, 2011

Dear Jim,

I called yesterday to see how you were doing and was saddened to hear from Wileta that you are not doing well. I want to take this opportunity to tell you how much I have appreciated our friendship, how much I admire you and to acknowledge the many contributions you have made to the Media Center and our larger community. Your visions for building community and empowering individuals to make a difference will live on in testament to the difference you have made.

The Greenlight Earth Day Film Festival is but one example of your creative leadership. The seventh annual festival in April 2012 is growing in geographic scope to include Santa Clara County, and will feature a special award to the Community Energy Champion.  This award will go to the filmmaker who has the most creative message about energy conservation.  The Energy Champion award is made possible by a grant from the City of San Jose. When we name the Community Energy Champion we will make the award in honor of Jim Burch, our Greenlight Champion.  You created a film festival that is inspiring youth to explore their environmental awareness and express their creative solutions.

There are so many folks in our beloved Midpeninsula community who love you.

Your warm and genuine ways bring an immediate sense of trust and affection.  I know that there are hundreds who would join me in saying thank you for so generously sharing your leadership, friendship and love with us.

We will remember you with gratitude.

Annie Folger

Everyone in the Media Center community would like to offer our condolences to Jim’s wife Wileta and the rest of his family. If any readers have fond memories of Jim Burch, please feel free to share them in the comments.