James "Jimmy" Anthony Topper

Death date: Jan 1, 2025

Obituary of James "Jimmy" Anthony Topper Please share a memory of James "Jimmy" to include in a keepsake book for family and friends. View Tribute Book James “Jimmy” Anthony Topper passed away in Houston, Texas, on Sunday, Septemb Read Obituary

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Larry Theis

12w ago

In September of 1959 Jimmy and his great friend Dave Franzen came and stayed with my family in Chicago en route to our first year of seminary high school at Carmel Niagara in Niagara Falls, Ontario. That began six years of friendship, enhanced by the fact that, as we sat by alphabetical order in classes our first couple of years of high school and my name began with TH and his TO, we were attached as deskmates for some time. We also were roommates during our Novitiate year in New Baltimore, Pennsylvania. One of my fondest memories was of Jimmy's phenomenal prowess as a ping ping player at Carmel Niagara. He was 100% a patient, defensive player and regularly won tournaments by his persistence and patience. I had the pleasure of touching base after many years when our class planned a reunion in 2013 and although he was unable to attend we shared some fond memories on the phone and I particularly remember his continuing sadness at the untimely loss of one of his sons at a young age. It is not surprising at all to hear how full of faith and devotion he remained throughout his life. An absolutely solid, good good man and this world is less without him and the next is a better place with him.

Larry Theis
Denver, Colorado

Leo Strickland

13w ago

Topper's many former fellow Carmelite Seminarians across the country will miss him and I am sure will send a few "Aves" to Heaven where he is dwelling in eternal rest with happy memories of his family, friends and a life well lived. Jim's quiet personality always came through - we all always enjoyed his company. As your generation would say - he was a great “Bro”! It is inspiring that throughout his life he lived his commitment to The Carmelite Order's motto ("With Zeal I am Zealous to The Lord God of Hosts").

Leo Strickland
San Francisco, CA

Regis Tremblay

13w ago

Your dad and I were classmates and good friends. Everyone liked you dad, a soft-spoken and very kind man. Thank you for the Obit which shed light on his amazing life. It was an honor to know him and to have shared many wonderful moments and memories.

Regis

Regis Tremblay
Independent Filmmaker
Forwarding address:
14 Maine St. Suite 210 FG
Brunswick, Maine 04011

Guy Gromala

13w ago

Remembering our friend Jim Topper

Jimmy was my classmate through the seminary, and Carmel Hall. He was a kind gentle man.My prayers for Jim and his family.

Guy

Larry Rich

13w ago

Jimmy was a few years ahead of me in the seminary. As many have remarked, he was quiet, gentle soul. His kindness is a lasting legacy that endures.

John Leary

13w ago

Thank you so much for reaching out to your Dad's old friends from his time with the Carmelites. Although Jimmy was a few years ahead of me in age, we wound up rooming together right after half our building (Mt. Carmel College/Monastery) burned down in November of 1967. As you briefly but distinctly described your Dad in your email, I too came to know him as a humble man of few words but those few words were always sincere, kind, and honest. He was so easy to get along with - the best trait of a college roommate. Your Dad's sense of humor came out in his witty remarks almost always focused on the incongruities of seminary life. Also, Jimmy's prowess as a lineman kept many of us in fear for our lives when we had to play against him in our intramural flag-football games. (Hey, you didn't expect seminarians to be playing tackle football, did you.)

The memory of our time as roommates that immediately came to mind when I saw "James Topper" in my email had to do with a term paper that Jimmy completed on the day it was due. (I believe he started working on it the day before.) It was a last-minute request, but he asked me to proofread it before he handed it in. As I started to read, I complemented him on his introductory paragraph. It was very well written. When I got to the second paragraph I started thinking "wow, he is a much better writer than me. In fact, he's a much better writer than he is a speaker." When I got to the third paragraph, I broke out in laughter. Jimmy was now writing in Latin. I glanced ahead at the following pages where I noticed more and more sentences in Latin. What I didn't notice were any footnotes attributing the Latin phrases to some author. I stopped from laughing long enough to ask your Dad to please translate the Latin phrases and sentences for me. He responded, "How the hell should I know." Now I was doubled over in laughter. I think I was actually crying with laughter, and I stumbled in my speech as I said to your Dad, "Jimmy, there's no way you can hand in your paper. It's obviously copied right out of a book." Jimmy responded, "Yes, but Father (his teacher) won't know which book it came from." Once again I doubled over in laughter and said "Jimmy, Father doesn't need to find the book you copied from. He knows you aren't fluent in Latin." That's when your Dad cracked up along with me.

I wish I could tell you what your Dad did with the paper. I think he may have just eliminated the Latin sentences sprinkled throughout the paper. But, I really can't be sure. Anyway, I remember your Dad with joy in my heart, and I thank God Jimmy was a part of my life back in the 1960s.

May Jimmy now be experiencing the joy of God's Kingdom completely, and I pray there will be no term paper assignments nor a requirement that one be fluent in Latin.

John Leary

Robert Clark

13w ago

God bless Jimmy! Jimmy and I met as seminarians for the Carmelite Fathers. We met at the Carmelite Seminary in Niagara Falls, Canada. I am originally from New Jersey. Jimmy thought might accent was funny and I thought the same about his Texas accent!
We enjoyed being classmates and both striving to be good Catholics. I also left the Carmelite Seminary and returned to New Jersey where I eventually married and had a family. Jimmy and I are still close in the sense that I also have been a Eucharist Minister and a member of the choir in my Church Santa Catalina. I am also a member of the Knights of Columbus! God rest your soul my Brother Knight! Sincerely,
Bob Clark

Jack Ullrich

13w ago

My name is Jack Ullrich from Chicago Illinois. Jimmy was my classmate in the Carmelite Seminary back in 1967 we both drove the seminary bus. We both played softball for the seminary team. He was the catcher and I played left field. Some great memories of me and him just popped into my head. So sorry he passed away. Thank you so much for contacting people in his early life. He was a good friend the best

Bri Topper

17w ago

What a privilege it is to witness the impact this deeply loving person has had on, not only the entirety of his family, but community too.

I miss the warmth & comfort you brought to the room. Quiet, yet present. I’ll miss going to church with the four of us, the outback steakhouse dinners on special occasions, and the look of peace resting on your face when you’d pray to the rosary in your favorite chair on the back patio. Thank you for always reminding me to revisit nature. Thank you for holding so many close to your heart through dedication and compassion. Thank you for continuously showing Sam unconditional love since the day he was born.

Love you forever Papa James,
and the entirety of his family.

Sincerely,
Bri Topper

Stephanie Gorg

17w ago

I loved Uncle Jimmy. He was Alastair quick witted, kind, and moving. A piece of my heart went with him.

I wrote this as a tribute to a man I respected and adored.

The river and the ember began with two simple forces. They're the steady force that carries each of us forward along with the quiet warmth that keeps us alive inside.

Uncle Jimmy embodied both, his presence was a river - flowing steady and sure, and he was always moving toward what mattered to him. His spirit was an ember glowing with encouragement while igniting possibility and courage in those around him. He always basked in the loving light of God.

His way of seeing the world was through goodness and service and is the heartbeat of what Uncle Jimmy and Aunt Didi have created through their lives. His everlasting love for his family is a continuation of the faith, security, and presence which shaped his family.

He is the river who carried his family through unbelievable grief and absolute joy.

He is the ember that never goes out. His strong faith carried us all at one time or another. His life was a testament to his love for his family and dedication to God.

His story is one we all will continue to tell. Through the river and ember, an invitation is extended; to keep tending your own light and goodness. To carry your faith forward and create memories and stories that will outlast each of us

Remember Uncle Jimmy as a husband, father, grandfather, son, brother, uncle, and friend. Keep his name in your hearts and remember his love for his family and the light of God that propelled him throughout his life.

John Leary

13w ago

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