Preceded in death by parents, Dr. Wilfred and Louise Eberhart, 1st wife Helen Eberhart, brother-in-law Guy Settimio, sisters-in-law Virginia Pomante and Mary Collins, and daughter Renee McKinley.
Survived by brother, Dr. David (Marilyn) Eberhart, sister Carol (Richard) Haines, brother-in-law Joseph (Gerry) Settimio, sisters-in-law Ollie Eddy and Julie Bower, wife Lucy Fazekas, daughter Karen (Don) Higdon, son Brian Eberhart, daughters-in-law Krisilyn Patton, Laura Halfpenny and Loann Cook, son-in-law Russ (Deborah) Fazekas, 21 grandchildren and 31 great-grandchildren.
Jim was born and raised in Columbus, OH. He earned his Bachelors of Science in Mathematics, and his PhD in Chemistry from The Ohio State University. He was a research chemist at Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, NM for 5 years and at Argonne National Laboratory in Lemont, IL for 10 years. He then joined the Chemistry faculty at Aurora College for 5 years. During that time, he and Helen raised Karen and Brian in Naperville, IL. In 1982, he became a Chemistry professor at University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, where Renee joined the family. Jim retired as Professor Emeritus in 2013 after 31 years at UCCS. During those years, he also spent time doing research with the cadets at the US Air Force Academy.
He had very diverse interests. He worked in Reactor Analysis and Safety, and has patents on batteries for the precursor to electric cars. He taught Chemistry, Thermodynamics and Kinetics, Quantum Mechanics and Spectroscopy, and a math anxiety class for adults. He researched the effects of happiness on longevity as well as studying Asperger’s Syndrome. Several journals published his articles.
Jim played guitar and led sing-a-longs at work, schools, summer camps and nursing homes. He loved bluegrass music, played in a bluegrass group in Naperville, and attended events at the Black Rose Acoustic Society in the Springs. He enjoyed driving across the country to visit his children and grandchildren, Gabe (Cody), Brian, Jr. (Summer), Jim (Elizabeth), Noah (Madison) and Jesse. He also joined exercise classes at the Senior Center where he met Lucy, and he loved Lucy’s children and grandchildren as his own.
Jim found a supportive, loving family of believers at First Presbyterian Church, and was a member of the Pathfinders Sunday School class as well as a men’s prayer group.
Swan-Law will be accommodating a visitation for family and friends Wednesday November 11, 2020 from 3-7pm. A funeral will be held for James at First Presbyterian Church 219 E Bijou St, Colorado Springs, CO 80903 on Thursday November 12, 2020 at 2pm. This service is by reservation only, if you would like to see the service but are unable to make it, please join the livestream at http://www.firstprescos.org/memorial-livestream/. Committal to follow immediately after the service at Memorial Gardens Cemetery 3825 Airport Rd, Colorado Springs, CO 80910.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you consider a donation to Compassus Hospice of Colorado Springs or the Colorado Springs Senior Center.
