Jim Witmer, 61, died on Monday, October 26 following a brief illness. While truly a gifted photographer Jim is being remembered as a great family man and very caring individual.
Born in Orrville, OH, Jim was the good-looking basketball star whose talent and interests over the years led to a very diverse life. Jim graduated from Ohio University with a degree in fine art and was also a member of a national champion Frisbee team.
Later in life Jim developed a love for craft beer and became a very accomplished home brewer. His Mint Cookie Stout is a seasonal favorite at Fifth Street Brewpub in Dayton.
As a photojournalist Jim got his start as an intern at the Troy Daily News where he won five ONPA Clip Photographer of the Year titles in a six-year span and was NPPA’s Region 4 POY three times. It was an amazing accomplishment considering ONPA had five to six times the membership than it has today and it was a battle just to crack the top ten. Jim went on to work at the Miami News in Florida and the Dayton Daily News.
A celebration of life is being planned for 2021.