James W. Glass, 75, curator and builder of the Hinsdale Theatre Wurlitzer/Kimball pipe organ, died April 12, 2022, at Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove.
Jim was born in Oak Park in 1946. He attended IIT and studied electrical engineering. After school he began his work as a projectionist at the Hinsdale Theatre. He collected organ parts from theaters, stadiums and churches around the country and built a magnificent pipe organ. It is still renowned for its excellence and missed by organ enthusiasts. Jim worked as a paperboy, a film projectionist, a furniture mover, an electrician, a handyman, an antique furniture repairer and more. He seemed to know something about everything.
While working at the Hinsdale Theatre and on the organ, Jim met Hope at Soukup's Hardware store. They dated, married and had two children together. He was an amazing father. He helped Bart and Jamie with math and science homework even after long days of hard work. Their successes in life are owed to the kindness, intelligence and example he set. As Grumpa to Logan, Chase, Ellie, Cody and Olivia, he left an impression that will last a lifetime. Jim will be missed by all the people lucky enough to have met him, but most of all by his family.
He is survived by his wife, Hope, nee Johnson; his children, Jamie (Matt) Engelman and Bart (Lauren Gray) Glass; his grandchildren, to Logan Cederstrand, Chase Cederstrand, Ellie Engelman, Cody Engelman and Olivia Glass; his siblings, Bob (Karen) Glass, Carl (Sherry) Glass and Louise (Mike) Forbes; his siblings-in-law, Leif (Liz) Johnson, Eric (Kyle) Johnson and Joyce (Don) Ross; his nieces and nephews, Jenny (Pete), Mindi (Danny), Beth (Dave), Lauren (Joe), Matt (Rachel), Tori (Eric), Emma, Jackie, Amanda, Nick, Sean, Paul, Rebecca (Tony) and Tim; and his great-nieces and -nephews, Abbey, Finn, Jake, Ben, Avery, Emily, Lily, Julian, Nathan, Aidan, Megan, Joey, Josh, Sam, Brian, Maggie, Hannah, Daniel, Elizabeth, Maddi, Xander, Damian and Alex.
He was preceded in death by his brother-in-law, Mark (Cheryl) Johnson.
Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday April 22, at Adolf Funeral Home 7000 S. Madison St. Willowbrook.
A time of remembrance will take place at 7 p.m. at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made online to the Michigan Theatre in Ann Arbor at https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?id=17&name=E3313.
Brian Powell Funeral Directors of Hinsdale handled the arrangements.
