James G. Azar was born to Syrian-Lebanese parents on the sixth of January, 1956 in Brooklyn, New York. He was the eldest of four children. In 1960 his family moved to Hollywood, Florida. He graduated from Nova High School, an academic scholar, receiving honors in the Westinghouse Science Talent Search and National Forensics League.

He served his country as a member of the U.S. Army Intelligence Corps between 1976 and 1979 where he served as an interrogator.

Jim was also a member of Hall/Hill Performing Arts... when it all began and is perhaps, best remembered for his rendition of I Want To Be Happy with Cookie Latham in 1974. This memorable event was re-created in the first alumni show "Singing Our Own Song" in June 1998.

Jim was a poet ("Arrival: One or Only?") , successful business man, actor, playwright, friend and father. He leaves behind a wonderful family of siblings, and parents, wife Cindy, daughter Brittany, and the Hall/Hill Performing Arts troupe.

Jim was taken from us on October 15, 1998.

Our wonderful, eloquent friend...
We so miss you.

MickeyRose Anthony (Hawley), Jim Azar, Cindy Azar, Mike Kessler

Tributes From Friends

From MickeyRose Anthony (Hawley)

Prince Jim, I just had to tell you one last time, that I love you. I'll see you on the other side. You will know me, and I will know you, without a doubt. Until then, I will hold you in my heart, my beloved soul brother. With perpetual love, I am your MickeyRose

From Alma Anthony Nemrava

We are all richer for having known Jim Azar. His tender, all-embracing love helped me to hope for some nobility in my own humanity. I never knew him to do a mean thing. If he had any fault, it was over-writing. Language, even poetry, falls short of what his big generous soul gallantly tried to communicate to us. I have gathered it up; the sweetness. the exaggeration, the profound image of his falling on his knees in the cemetery, and I hold it all fast in my heart.

Weeping, Alma Anthony Nemrava

From Mike Kessler

I didn't know Jim Azar well in high school. In fact, I really only got to know him in the two months before he died. Still, words and feelings keep flowing out of me. I could easily write a book about what I learned about life from Jim Azar in two months.

There is one incident which captures the essence of Jim for me. We saw each other only once since we left Nova, when he, his wife Cindy, Rose (Mickey Anthony) Hawley and I had lunch together over Labor Day weekend. Jim already knew he had cancer, and knew he was going to have a lung removed. He was scared, but also invigorated and energized, almost hyper-alive.

Jim and Mickey went outside to smoke a cigarette at one point. Cindy and I stayed in the restaurant and talked. Jim strode back in, grabbed me, and kissed me firmly on the lips. Needless to say, I was shocked and a little perplexed. Then he said something along the lines of "I love you, man." There was certainly nothing romantic in any of this, that was clear. Although I am gay, Jim was definitely not. But I couldn't help but think about the meaning of this kiss. With that one act, he said to me what words could never fully express: "I trust you, I respect you, your gayness doesn't scare me because it is but one part of you, you are not invisible, you are not forgotten, you are important…." With that gesture, he has caused me to re-examine my life every day, to question and dispel many of my insecurities and misconceptions, to never stop questioning who I am and where I fit in the world. Jim changed so many of our lives that it gives me comfort to think he will live on in us and in those whose lives we touch.

From Mike Brannon

On my last visit to Washington in April of this year, my family spent a day with Jim A. and his wonderful family. It was the second time that our families had the opportunity to spend time together and we did the usual tourist stuff in the capital.

When we reached the Jefferson Memorial, there was a tribute to Jefferson going on that was to last an hour. As a result, the monument was closed during that time period. After the passage of 90 minutes, the supposed dignitaries were still milling around the steps while hundreds of citizens were waiting in the hot sun for the re-opening of the monument.

At that point, Jim A. began to shout "Hey, get those people out of there! I am a citizen of the United States and I demand that my monument be cleared immediately". Television cameras turned towards Jim and his wife attempted to quietly usher him away. Jim persisted "Thomas Jefferson would be appalled at you people blocking the citizens of this union from exercising their rights in a free republic! This is a civil protest and I demand that you clear away from my monument!"

Although the police approached Jim, the presence of the television cameras kept them at bay and a crowd began to form around Jim. At that point an amazing thing occurred.......dignataries were quickly ushered away from the monument steps and the waiting citizens were allowed immediate access to Mr. Jefferson!

Jim smiled proudly as we had our photos taken at the top of the monument steps. That is how I will always remember my best friend.....howling against the injustices of the world and making others stronger and more aware by his own example. I will eternally feel a great loss over the absence of Jim Azar, but I will always be grateful for the many things that I would have never had without him. Thank-you Jim for not going easily into the night.......

From Caron Conway de Salazar

... JeffR and BruceS joined us later. We toasted the gentle Bear of a man with the soul of a Poet, and felt Jim's spirit around us. My deepest, heartfelt condolences to Jim's many loved ones. I did not know him as well as I would have liked to, but he touched my life in such a profound way. Jim's honesty, humor, sensitivity and courage are an inspiration. Thank-you, Jim, for my renewed appreciation of Life and its many wondrous gifts. The believer believes: 'Tis a far better place for which he leaves. This is for everyone out there who is hurting tonight:

"UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN" Don't want to say good-bye,/
But it's not your choice, I know./
That doesn't make it easier;/
I'll miss you more than you could ever know./
And it's hurting me already/
To know you won't be here/
To share my schemes, my fears, my dreams,/
To wipe away my tears./
But don't think that I'll forget you/
After you're gone./
Even after life has ended,/
Love burns strong./
And farewell is not forever;/
No, this is not the end./
Somewhere along that lonely journey,/
I'll be seeing you again./
And till then, my memories will keep me warm,/
My memories of you, my friend./
I can't hold you in my arms,/
But I'll hold you in my heart till then./
Until we meet again. . .

Peace and love to all, Caron