By Kaye Byrnes
When I decided to explore the art of storytelling in 1996 several local friends directed me to Dr. Jim Mittlestadt, a professor at the University of North Florida.
He invited me to his cubbyhole of an office and wrapped me in encouragement. To get me started, he shared some wonderful resource books and introduced me to FSA and StoryCamp. I audited his Storytelling in Education class, and he became both a mentor and friend.
It didn’t take long to understand that Jim was a taproot in the Florida storytelling community. A past President of FSA, a gentle soul with stories that twinkled like his own sky-blue eyes. Everyone I encountered knew and loved Jim Mittlestadt.
Over the next twenty-plus years, Jim and I both aged. He eventually retired from the university to enjoy a different life with his wife, Susie. I’d see him a couple times a year, at StoryCamp/Festival and at Bean Soup & Stories (our Jacksonville Tellabration!)
Whenever he was in my audience, he offered kind words and appreciation for the journey he had helped me begin. Whenever I was in his audience, I marveled at the grace, humor and poignancy of his stories. His love of stories and storytellers was both contagious and visceral.
Jim Mittelstadt passed away quietly on June 25, 2023 only two-months after his soulmate, Susie, left this earth. I learned of their passing at the recent Bean Soup Tellabration! and felt a piece of my heart float away. Jim was part of my story, part of our story. His memory is a blessing.
Those who had the pleasure of knowing Jim will surely remember him with deep affection. Those who did not missed out on one of the best. Jim has gone to join the other taproots of our storytelling family. Annette Bruce, Jayme Green, Margaret Lawrence, Cissie Griffin, and many more who once shared their time, talent and stories to the benefit of us all. May we honor all who have come and gone, those who made FSA part of their story, those who lit the pathway for us to follow in their footsteps.
Rest in Peace dear Jim, you and your stories are forever in my heart.
Jim Mittelstadt
James “Jim” Mittelstadt passed away in June at age 84 in Jacksonville. He was a former professor at North Florida University and was a past president of the Florida Storytelling Association (92-93). He also was a featured teller at the 1987, 1991, 1997 and 2004 FSA StoryCamps (which preceded the annual Florida Storytelling Festival). He received the FSA Lifetime Achievement Award in 2003.
Kaye Byrnes is a long-time member of the Florida Storytelling Association. She has been sharing stories with children and adults since 1996. She served as FSA President (2005-07) and received the inaugural Distinguished Service Award in 2007. And in 2018, Byrnes was honored with the Annette J. Bruce Lifetime Achievement Award.
Thanks, Kaye, I have fond memories of so many of the people you mentioned in this post.
Mary Hamilton
I hadn’t heard of Jim and Susie’s passings. My heart aches for this loss. Jim was just as you described, Kaye, down to the twinkle in those blue eyes. Just one of the gentlest, kindest people I’ve ever met. And Susie was equally as lovely. They will be dearly missed.
I have many good memories of Jim. He was the FSA President who brought Jay O’Callahan to Florida for the annual Festival (in those days we called it Story Camp), an amazing weekend. A line in one of Jay’s stories stuck with us, and for years afterwards Jim and I would greet each other with a high, melodic, “Lydia!!” I’m sorry indeed to hear that Jim and Susie, two gentle, lovely souls, are gone. To lose them both so close together is a blow to all who love them, but seems appropriate for the close, loving soul-bond they shared. Rest in peace and rise in glory, Jim and Suzie; you are greatly missed.
Jim was the epitome of a good man, filled with kindness, sharing, and a gift of story that he shared with so many along the way. He has left a huge void in not only the storytelling community, but in the world at large. He will remain in my heart and memories forever.
Kaye that was a beautiful tribute to your friend and mentor. I love the description “taproots”.
Thank you Kate for that lovely tribute to Jim and Susie. I discovered Jim when I moved to Jacksonville in the late 1980s and became a school librarian. Jim presented to our professional groups often and graciously shared his tips – and his twinkle – with us all. He is sorely missed.
Sorry to hear about Jim’s death, but all of your memories refreshed some of mine. I remember Jim telling me that he knew the his heritage was Scots/Irish because he loved to drink but hated to pay for it. Blessings to Jim and all of you, Diane Rooks
Beautiful and truthful words for us to remember our friend Jim Mittelstadt. Thank you, Kaye. His and Susie’s love for each other was evident to all and they inspired us all. I am grateful to have known them and to have been given the chance to follow their talents. Jim’s dedication to storytelling was a gift that we all get to unwrap, over and over again.
Long live storytelling.
Well done, Kay. He was a master of the art.
Jim will always live on through his stories and the many, many lives that he touched. Like a magical Leprechaun, Jim helped us find the real treasures at the end of the rainbow, our stories and our ability to listen, truly listen with delight, to each others. I loved Jim and Susie like so many others, miss them very much, but cannot help but smile as I remember them. Thanks for writing this, Kaye.