James Whitfield Vick

James (Jim) Vick of Austin, Texas died peacefully on November 8th, 2023 of complications of Parkinson’s dementia. He was 81 years old. At his side were his wife Niki, and his two children, Todd and Stuart. Jim was diagnosed with Parkinson’s fifteen years ago and for thirteen of those years, he lived a full life, continuing with tennis, traveling, hiking and, later regular boxing classes. During his last week, Jim was joined by his entire family. While there, they cried a little, shared memories and stories, laughed a lot and watched one last UT football game together.

Jim was born on March 8th, 1942, in Hope, Arkansas, but grew up in Baton Rouge, LA. He followed his parents in the teaching profession; his father Maurice McCall Vick was a chemistry professor and his mother Whitfield Cannon Vick was an education/history professor, both at LSU.

Jim attended LSU, graduating in Mathematics in 1964. While at LSU, he joined the Sigma Chi fraternity, establishing friendships he would maintain throughout his life.

Jim and Niki met the summer after HS and married in 1964. After both graduated from LSU, they moved to Charlottesville where Jim would earn both his MA and PhD in Mathematics from the University of Virginia in 1968. Their children Todd and Stuart were both born in Charlottesville while they were there. Following graduation and before moving permanently to Austin in 1970, Jim taught at Princeton for two years.

Jim, or JV as he became known to many of his colleagues, remained at UT through his formal retirement in 2012 although he continued to teach and stay involved with the University well beyond then. In 1978 he was named Associate Dean of the College of Natural Sciences. In 1989 he was appointed Vice President of Student Affairs, a role he proudly held for more than 16 years, serving under four different presidents of the University. Student Affairs provided him additional engagement with students that he treasured and allowed him to build a team that had a lasting impact on student life. During this time he was appointed to the Men’s Athletic Council, later becoming it’s Chairman and representing the University to the Southwest Conference, Big XII Conference and the NCAA.

While he enjoyed his administrative duties, his true love was teaching. He never gave up that role throughout his almost 45 years on campus. He became famous for studying his students’ pictures before they arrived on the first day of class so he could call them all by name from Day 1. He got as much enjoyment from helping the struggling student one-on-one through Calculus as he did in rich discussions with graduate students on Topology theories and took incredible pride in seeing their successes after they left the 40 Acres. Every year, he invited classes to dinners at his house to get to know them beyond the classroom. The impact he made on his students and his ability to connect one on one resulted in many teaching awards including the Jean Holloway award, the Texas Excellence Award, Parents Association Award of Distinction, the Nowotny Medal, the Piper Professorship, and the President’s Associates Award (Plan II) among a number of others. While vice president he established the Freshman Interest Group Seminars (FIGS) and Reading Roundup program; was instrumental in the creation of The Recreational Sports Center, the Students Service Building, and 3 honors dorms and helped bring to fruition the Martin Luther King, Jr. statue. He was an Ashbel Smith Professor and a founding member of the UT Academy of Distinguished Teachers.

Beyond the University, he and Niki pursued one of their passions – the outdoors. They travelled every year to spend time in the mountains. Their road trips in the early years to the National Parks out west instilled a love of the Parks and for travel in Todd and Stuart. Visiting the chalets in Glacier National Park was always a particular family favorite. As empty nesters, they bought a house in Balsam, North Carolina, spending the summers hiking and making new friends. Over the last twenty years they travelled the world on hiking adventures from the Amalfi Coast to Machu Picchu.

Jim’s other passion was sports. Long a baseball player, he channeled the energy into coaching his children’s teams. Those teams from Northwest Little League to the Pony/Colt leagues won many championships. He was as well known for his positive and optimistic demeanor as for his teams’ successes. Without knowing much about soccer, he brought the same traits to those teams he coached and had the same success. When his coaching days were over, nothing made him more proud than watching his grandchildren play. Later he kept his competitive juices flowing by playing regular tennis games with friends from the University right up until his last few years. A natural right-hander, his knack for being able to play the occasional left-handed shot on a ball that seemed out of reach was always a fascination of the group.

Beyond travel and sports, Jim had an incredible creative side. He loved crossword puzzles, trivia and playing the banjo. He really shined as a writer. He wrote a math textbook that was used in classrooms around the country and was even translated into many languages. Most, though, knew him for his poetry. His annual Christmas poems were legendary, so much so that friends would make sure they were on the list if those poems were ever a bit late in arriving – which they often were. Beyond those, there was a whole set of poems that most did not see, including “PD and Me” that he wrote to share his thoughts after first being diagnosed with Parkinson’s.

Jim and Niki celebrated their 59th anniversary in August. She remained his loving companion until his last day. Predeceased by his parents, he is survived by his older brother, Mac and wife Charlotte, his son and daughter-in-law, Todd and Shelley Vick, his daughter and son-in law, Stuart and Steve Smith, and his five grandchildren, Alyson, Wilson, Mackenzie, Melissa and Whit, as well as many nieces and nephews. In a way, the University was his sixth grandchild. He will forever be remembered for his charm, his character, his humility, his smile, and his compassion every bit as much as his intelligence and his skill.

Jim’s family would like to thank his personal caregivers Rosa Soto and Lisbeth Lozano, the staff at the Reserve of Lake Austin, especially, but not limited, to Laura, Eileen, Lonnie, Shae, Clayton, and Janet and the Seton Northwest nurses Heidi, Eva, Andi and Amy for the compassionate care they provided him in this last year. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the James W. Vick Endowed Scholarship for Student Leaders at UT to honor his life’s work and passion for teaching; the Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, or for Austin Power for Parkinson’s.

A Celebration of life will be held January 13th at 3:00 at the University of Texas Alumni Center (Ex Students Association) on the UT Campus.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.wcfishnorth.com for the Vick family.