Jim Vires is remembered by a town he loved
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BENNINGTON — He was often the guy behind the camera at board meetings or community or political events, recording everything for CAT-TV.
But Jim Vires, who died Tuesday at 66, was more than that to the many in the Bennington area and beyond who got to know him.
Among the tributes offered following his death after suffering a heart attack, Select Board member Tom Haley, who considered Vires his best friend, said, “This is hammering me, you know? Literally, a day didn’t go by when we didn’t at least talk or text about something.”
He added, “Jim was a very special guy. He was unique, let’s say that, and he touched a bunch of people.”
And Vires’ personality had much to do “with the path he took to get here,” Haley said.
Genie Rayner, Vires’ life partner, said Wednesday that she is “overwhelmed in a good way by the response of folks to his death. The outpouring has just been tremendous and loving and gracious, and some things have been funny, and he would have loved that.”
She added, “I’m amazed at the hole he is leaving in Bennington in just the time that he has been here.”
Rayner said they moved to the Bennington area in October 2012.
Haley said Vires was from a large family in the Midwest and joined the Air Force, “basically, he told me, to relieve some of the financial pressure from his family.”
From there, Vires “struggled with addiction, homelessness, and he literally rode the rails as a hobo for a long time," Haley said, and Vires had some brushes with the law as a result of that.
But Vires also later worked as a drug addiction counselor for a while to try to help others with the same experience, Haley said, adding that Vires then met Rayner and they moved from Illinois to Vermont.
Eventually, Vires “fell in love with our town,” Haley said, “and he threw himself into helping out everywhere and anywhere he could.”
A member of the 2024 Bennington Charter Review Committee, Vires also served on the committee that researched policing review options and produced a report to the Select Board on how to establish a permanent police review board – the Community Policing Advisory Review Board.
He also was active with the Rights & Democracy advocacy group and with local Democrats, often supporting progressive candidates and causes.
“His life experiences brought him to a place where he was able to advocate for those less fortunate,” Haley said.
“It is difficult to know what to say about such a loss to our community as the crossing over of Jim Vires,” said Mary Gerisch, who also is active in progressive causes and with Rights & Democracy. “He has always been a fierce defender of the most vulnerable, and a passionate advocate for human dignity. He will be very missed, not only by me, but by most everyone in our community who has ever had contact with him.”
She added, “We are so blessed with all of the good he contributed to Bennington, and to our nation, by honoring the dignity of every human being. I hope we will all carry on to work for justice and equity as he would want us to do. His spirit will remain in all the work we all do.
Lisa Byer, executive director of CAT-TV, said, “Jim was a treasured member of our team here at CAT-TV and we are devastated by his sudden passing. We all just adored him and loved working with him.”
She added that “Jim was open about his life, the challenges and mistakes made along the way, and felt that we took a big risk by hiring him. The truth is that he wasn’t a risk; he was a committed staff member who was highly reliable, always willing to help, deeply dedicated to our mission and always wanting what was best for us and the community.”
Vires “came to us when we needed him and he needed us; together it worked out wonderfully and we feel lost without him,” Byer said. “It was amazing to watch him delight in town politics, feel a sense of purpose and acceptance, and complete our oddly unique crew. I feel grateful to have known him.”
Mike Cutler, the production manager at CAT-TV, said he felt fortunate to have Vires for more than five years on the CAT-TV staff – after he had previously been a volunteer at the local cable network.
“He was a great guy, and one of the things I admire about him is that even in his older age, he could pick up learning cameras and learning editing and really getting creative in that whole process. And he loved community media and local politics and loved covering all of those events.”
Cutler said he likely was speaking for others in saying, “I am absolutely devastated to lose someone right here in our own family at CAT-TV. He had quite an impact on us and on the community.”
“I will miss Jim,” said Select Board Chair Jeannie Jenkins. “He was thoughtful, kind and accepting. He held strong beliefs and was deeply principled. He served his community with humility and great respect.”
She said Vires’ “work on the taskforce to establish the policing advisory board (CPARB) and his work on town policies helped move our community forward. His thoughtful contributions on the Charter Review Committee were evident at the recent public meeting. Jim’s work at CAT-TV really shows who he was. He filmed everything from political rallies to festivities at the Community Garden. He loved Bennington and it loved him back. He will be sorely missed.”
Jackie Matts, chair of the Charter Review Committee, said, “I'm absolutely gutted at the loss of Jim Vires. He was incredibly enthusiastic about serving on this committee, and he poured his all into this role. I felt confident about the work that was being done to address blighted properties and to examine the roles of the Select Board and town manager because I had confidence in Jim. I don't know how we'll move forward from here, but I know our work will be better for his contributions. His passing is a huge blow to the Charter Review Committee, the town of Bennington, and to me personally.
“Jim and I met many years ago,” Matts said. “We sang and danced together. We prayed together. We broke bread many times, and we laughed often. Jim encouraged me to get involved in issues I cared about, and he led by example. Apart from his civic engagement with town government and campaign work for numerous Democratic candidates, he was one of Queer Connect's longest and most dedicated volunteers, from filming Pride and other events to helping with promotion or setting up chairs.”
Vires “would get injudiciously angry on observing an injustice, and always believed he could make our world better,” Matts said. “He was a beautiful human, and an inspiration to me. I'm grateful to have known him, and I'll miss him profoundly.”
A longtime friend and fellow advocate for a number of causes, Vickie Lampron, said that during a dinner party a number of years ago, “the subject came up that, ‘Vickie, when are you going to run for another office again?’”
She responded, “You know I’m not as smart as all of you in this room,” which prompted Vires to “put his fist on the table and say, ‘When are going to realize you are as smart as everybody else?’”
Lampron, who now serves on the town policing review board, said she carries that memory as an inspiration for when she finds herself in a potentially intimidating public setting.
“It is in my mind: ‘Oh, Jim’s going to kick my a-s,’” she said.
She added, “Jim loved his wife, his community, CAT-TV and his friends with a powerful passion. Today, Bennington is a bit dimmer, but I know Jim would say, ‘Get back to work and shine your lights on our town.’”
Town Communications Coordinator Jonah Spivak said, “I am heartbroken. Jim was an amazing person who made huge contributions to our community. Not only his terrific work at CAT-TV, but serving as a frequent volunteer on important town issues such as the Safety and Equity Task Force and the Charter Review Committee. So very sorry to hear this sad news. Jim will be sorely missed.”
Asher Edelson, chair of the town Democratic committee, said, “Jim Vires was one of my first friends and political allies in Bennington. Always helpful, Jim was dedicated to Vermont, consistent in giving me his earnest advice, and a fellow member of the Jewish faith.”
He added, “Bennington has truly lost one of her champions. A driving force for Bennington’s amazing CAT-TV, Jim was a kind soul who took procedure and service seriously in good measure. Active in our town’s Democratic Party, boards, and community events, Jim’s life and footprint have blessed so many in our community. There wasn’t a Bennington parade or festival where I would see and exchange smiles with him.”
State Rep. Kathleen James, D-Manchester, posted a photo and comment about Vires on her Facebook page, saying:
“Really, really sad about the death of Jim Vires, a unique, utterly irreplaceable and super solid human being. Jim was the official/unofficial ‘field director’ for my first campaign in 2018. I knocked on almost 2,000 doors across the district, and many days, it was just me and Jim — he drove me up and down countless small streets and dirt roads, and I learned a lot from him about politics and about life.”
County Democratic Committee Chair Jim Ramsey said, “Jim Vires sudden passing is such a shock to everyone. There has been a tremendous outpouring of emotion — and love — from many of his friends here in Bennington and across Vermont. Jim was quite special in how he made such a positive difference in the lives of others and our community, and his light will continue to shine in all of us.”
Rayner said there will not be a formal service, at Vires’ request, but a memorial gathering will be held sometime after the November election.
As published in the Bennington Banner, October 16, 2024
Jim Therrien can be reached at therrienjim76@gmail.com or by phone at 413-281-2646. Twitter: @BB_therrien
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