Rock Hill, SC – James Thomas Cheeseman, 86, passed away on March 22, 2024 in Rock Hill, SC. Jim was born on June 10, 1937 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to the late Donald and Hazel Cheeseman. He attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he earned a bachelor of science in Chemical Engineering and met his wife Mary Ellen Cheeseman (née Griffis), whom he married in 1959. Together, they lived in Madison, WI, La Grange, IL, and Pottstown, PA before settling down in Saint Paul, Minnesota, where they spent the majority of their lives.
Jim was a dedicated chemical engineer and computer scientist. He worked for 33 years at 3M where he participated in early research into applications of neural networks and developed analytics to inform infrastructural design. He designed computer programs that were instrumental in the development of the Opticom system for emergency responders and in the printing of street signs found in Saint Paul and elsewhere. Following his time at 3M, he joined ING Insurance Company for 8 years, analyzing and reducing computer system response times.
Jim was also very involved in his community. He was a musician, playing French Horn in the 3M Symphony for 55 years, and was an active member of the Hazel Park Congregational Church in Saint Paul, MN, serving on the Board of Trustees as moderator and treasurer. A highly-involved father, he served as a Boy Scout leader and hosted mathematics and physics “parties” to help his children and their friends with their classwork. He also had a love of travel, and with his wife enjoyed visiting their grandchildren both in Connecticut, where they actively supported extracurricular and school events, and in Barcelona, Spain, where they would spend extended periods of time visiting and accompanying his daughter’s orchestral tours around Europe. He was an avid reader, a member of the Mensa International Organization, a self-declared “punster,” and a committed patron of theater and the musical arts.
Jim is preceded in death by his parents, older brother Donald Cheeseman and Mary Ellen, his loving wife of 63 years. He is survived by his son, James Cheeseman (Joanne Hiscocks) of North Haven, CT and daughter, Judith Cheeseman Thompson of Rock Hill, SC; six grandchildren, Meredith Williams (David) of Boston, MA, Kyle Thompson (Alana) of Lyme, CT, Micaela Cheeseman (Ryan Gierman) of Ottawa, ON, Canada, Derek Thompson of Rock Hill, SC, Erica Thompson of Rock Hill, SC; great-grandchild Jude Thompson; two nephews, Roger Griffis (Donna Wieting) of Tacoma Park, MD, Geoffrey Griffis (Claire Bloch) of Washington D.C.; and niece, Sue Andreano (Kip) of Cumming, GA.
A memorial gathering will be held this summer in Saint Paul, Minnesota for family and friends to gather and commemorate Jim’s life.
Condolences may be made at greenefuneralhome.net.