James "Jim" Thomas Stephens

James Thomas Stephens was born on March 25, 1921, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada to James Thomas Stephens, Sr. and Elenore Bell. He learned how to curl and took up figure skating, placing 1st in the Northwest Junior Men’s Championships in the late 30’s. He became a professional ice skating instructor and taught figure skating for over 40 years. Jim served in the Royal Canadian Air Force as a ham radio operator and ham radio navigation instructor during WWII and was stationed several places in Alaska and eastern Canada in 1942-45.

While stationed in Montreal, Quebec in 1943, he met Dorothy Alice Stephens at the ice arena in Lachine between her tours with Ice Capades. They married on December 21st, 1944. They taught figure skating one winter in Edmonton, Alberta, two years in Tacoma, WA, and three years in Portland Oregon before settling in Seattle where they co-leased the Ballard Ice Arena from 1951-1962. They built and opened Highland Ice Arena in Seattle/Shoreline on December 14th, 1962, which is now run by their children, “Rick” Stephens and Terry Green and their spouses. Both Jim and Dorothy were Master Rated Coaches by the Professional Skaters Association. They coached several skaters to National Championships, helped several prepare for careers in an ice show and several of their skaters also became successful skating coaches. On a busy day, he would often joke, “We’re the cheapest babysitting service in the city.” He lived out the registered trademark he selected for the rink, “Let Skating Preserve The Fitness of Youth.”

He became a US Citizen in the mid 60’s. Jim was a charter member of the Shoreline Chamber of Commerce in 1976. As a General Contractor and Licensed Refrigeration Technician, he partnered with William Jack Nankervis and through their company, Ice Arena’s Northwest, installed or replaced an additional 15 ice arena floors in WA, OR, CA, and B.C., Canada. He also purchased and operated the Bellevue Ice Plaza from 1968 until 1978, when he sold the land and purchased his first boat. He loved fishing and often took trips with friends or family returning with plenty of salmon.

After purchasing his first yacht and passing the boating safety course, he joined the Coast Guard Auxiliary in the early 80’s, taught boating safety and served as a Flotilla Commander, Captain of District #2, and Operations Director for District #13. He enjoyed patrolling the log boom at Seafair and participated in a NATO Training exercise at Bangor Naval Base.

Jim was also a competitive curler and a Charter Member of the Granite Curling Club, bringing his love for the sport to Seattle. He curled in three National Championships, 1972-1974, coached several Jr Men’s teams to the World Championships, became the first person to serve as head referee at the US National Championships and refereed at two World Curling Championships. Jim attended about 28 different World Curling Championships. On a trip to Scotland, the birthplace of curling, Jim & Dorothy curled in the Johnny Walker, the largest bonspiel in the world, out on a frozen lake. For many decades, he taught new curlers how to throw the rock straight, sweep the ice, read the ice, and understand the strategies. He was instrumental in helping the Club build the facility where they continue to operate. He was inducted into the US Curling Hall of Fame in 1997.

As a Mason for 79 years, Jim is a Past Master of University Lodge #141, twice as Past Patron of University Chapter OES, and five times at Greenwood Chapter #196 OES. In the Royal Arch Masons, Jim was a Life Member of Snohomish Chapter #15, a Charter Member of Research #68, and an Honorary Member of several other RAM groups. He served as Grand High Priest of the Grand Chapter RAM of WA in 2002 and was Ambassador to Washington from the General Grand Chapter RAM International 2005-2011. In the Knights Templar, he was a past Commander of Seattle Commandry #2, Grand Commander of the Grand Commandry of WA in 2008, and Grand Governor WA. Jim was a life Member of Adonirum Council #17 and Walter F Meier Council #22, Rainier York Rite College #54, St Alban Conclave, and a member of the Nile Shriners. He received the Grand Master’s Achievement Award, the General Grand Illustrious Master Achievement Award, and General Grand Chapter Achievement Award., and Past Sovereign Master AMD.2001 KYGCH, KTCH, KCT, KCCH. He also joined several other orders, served in many capacities and offices, received several awards, and became a 33 degree Mason.

Well into his mid-nineties, Jim was driving about 30,000 miles a year to attend various masonic meetings. He was in high demand for his skills in delivering the lectures and memory work. Jim loved to teach anything. He coached many friends in learning the work and the lectures. In his later years, he retyped many of the books into large print to make it easier for him and his friends to read and created calendars with multiple organizations meeting dates included and color coded so they could easily know which suit to wear.

In all his activities, he generously gave his time and financial support to help others succeed. He invested in people and in creating a sense of community both in the businesses he ran and the organizations in which he participated. Jim had a good sense of humor and was also a history buff. At his 100th Birthday Zoom party, he shared a detailed history of all the places he was stationed during WWII and how he met Dorothy. Several skaters who grew up at Highland Ice Arena and spent many hours there, said to Jim & Dorothy, “Thank you for giving us a wonderful childhood.”

He was preceded in death by parents James T. Stephens, Sr., Eleanor (Bell) Stephens, sisters Elizabeth Forslund, Irene Hart, and Leone Parsons. Jim is survived by his wife of almost 77 years, Dorothy Alice Stephens, sister, Patricia Stubbs, son, Rick Stephens, (daughter-in-law, Diana Stephens), daughter, Terry Green, (son-in-law Gary Green), grandchildren, Heather Green Mansfield, (husband, Justin Mansfield), Justin Green, (partner, Destiny Morfin), and Sarah Green, (partner, Andrew Garcia), and great-grandchildren Maximus and Valkyria Mansfield and Arianna Garcia, and numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family.

A Celebration of Life will be held at the Nile Shrine Center on Sunday, February 27th, at 1:30pm.