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James Anton Sturdevant, Jr. was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico on December 20, 1933. He died in Albuquerque on July 4, 2006. Jim was raised in Aztec, New Mexico, and also lived on Indian lands as a child. Jim lead a life filled with adventure, and his professional work took him to all parts of the world. He graduated from Aztec High School and received B.A. and M.A. degrees in geology from the University of New Mexico. As a student at UNM, Jim learned to fly airplanes, played the guitar and mandolin, and was active in the Kappa Alpha fraternity where he formed friendships that lasted throughout his lifetime. Many of Jim's close friends from his days as a student at UNM traveled long distances to spend time with him during the time of his final illness. These friends are in agreement that Jim was probably the most distinctive character they have known, possessing a rare combination of extraordinary intellect, an unmatched curiosity about everything, a wonderful sense of humor, and some very noticeable down home characteristics that he probably learned working in the oil fields in San Juan County as a youngster right out of high school. After serving in the U. S. Army, Jim worked for several mining companies before earning his Ph.D. in geology at Pennsylvania State University. Jim's strong academic credentials and hands on experience led to work as a geologist in India, New Zealand and Australia. In 1980 he was appointed professor at the Universidad Federal da Bahia and later, professor at Universidad Federal Fluminense in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. While living in Brazil, Jim married Gertrude Iser and helped raise her two sons. Gertrude passed away in 1993. In 2004, Jim returned to Albuquerque where he resided until his death. Jim's parents, James A Sturdevant, Sr. and (Gypsy) Cathyln Marie Kessler Sturdevant, preceded him in death. He is survived by uncles, Alvin Sturdevant of Farmington; Frank Sturdevant of Lindrith, NM, and aunts Marian Benton of Flagstaff, AZ, and Ruth Erickson of Glendale, AZ. Jim has been cremated and his ashes will be interred with his parents at Memorial Gardens in Flora Vista, NM. In addition to his relatives, Jim is survived by four of his close friends to whom he looked for special support in the final months of his life: John Wade, Bob McNeill, David Snow, and Paul Kinslow, all of whom loved Jim and will miss him everyday. There will be a graveside Memorial Service of Interment at Memorial Gardens in Flora Vista on July 15 at 11:30 a.m. For details contact Betty Waggoner in Aztec at 334-9315.
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