Jim Freeman was the kind of guy who made everyone feel like a close friend.
Freeman, a Freeland resident known for his unforgettable caboose home and distinct emcee voice, died June 19 at the age of 74, just one week before his milestone 75th birthday.
The South Whidbey icon known as the “Conductor of Fun” has been the voice behind several South End shindigs, such as the Whidbey Island Fair, the Langley Welcome the Whales parade, the Chum Run and the Whidbey Island Car Show. He was also actively involved in emceeing events for the South Whidbey Schools Foundation.
Fred Dente described Freeman’s tenor voice as “booming.” Back in the day, Dente played in rock ‘n roll bands.
“It was good as playing at Carnegie Hall, having Jim introduce us at the county fair,” he said.
When Dente and his wife moved to Hawaii, Freeman was one of the few people from Whidbey Island who kept in touch. He would mail clippings of his latest column in the Whidbey Weekly and news articles about the Seahawks during football season.
“I could be a real fan, even though I was 3,000 miles away,” Dente said.
Bruce Bell and Heather Klein, organizers for the Whidbey Island Car Show, also remember Freeman for his unique correspondence.
“After you got to know him, he would send us random mail,” Klein said. “A postcard from here, an article from somewhere. He’d send it with a funny note always. It’s a rare thing now to get mail from anybody.”
Bell added that the couple liked to call Freeman, especially when they knew he wasn’t home, just to hear his answering machine message. Freeman was fond of changing the message on a regular basis.
Kevin Fristad met Freeman years ago when he was emceeing a poetry slam hosted at the Dog House. He recalled Freeman pulling gag gifts from his shed to give to the winners.
“He was just a comedy genius,” Fristad said. “He made everybody laugh.”
Fristad went on to publish three books, which Freeman read and provided feedback.
“He was my greatest mentor, particularly with writing,” Fristad said. “He offered himself as an editor, free of charge. I really valued his input.”
More often than not, Sue Frause found herself aligned with Freeman, whether it was as fellow column writers for the South Whidbey Record or as his “sidekick” at an auction.
“I always kind of played second fiddle to him,” she said. “We joked it was the FNF show, the Freeman ‘n Frause show.”
She fondly recalled his special gift for communication, whether it was to a large crowd or a single person.
“It didn’t matter who the group was, he could relate to everyone,” she said. “All ages. All groups. He didn’t have any barriers about people.”
As Don Zontine put it, “He wasn’t afraid to get up there and be silly. A lot of people have a hard time doing that.”
Marian Myszkowski said her favorite thing to do during the Mutt Strut Dog Parade and Costume Contest at Bayview Corner was walk the route with Freeman, who was the master of ceremonies of the event for a decade.
“I had the Conductor of Fun pretty much all to myself for 15 minutes,” she marveled. “A special time indeed as he was usually surrounded by people wanting to talk to him everywhere he went.”
Similarly, Susan Berta recalled meeting Freeman and forming a friendship over the years from his time spent emceeing at the Penn Cove Water Festival and the Welcome the Whales parade.
“Those were the two events I looked forward to every year, because I would get to hang out with Jim all day and just have fun and joke,” she said.
Perhaps one of the most memorable things about Freeman was his house, a 1928 Milwaukee Road railroad caboose that he adorned with a variety of interesting decorations.
Dente described it as like going to Disneyland.
“It was like a museum, going over to Jim’s,” he said. “A museum of popular culture.”
Freeman studied law after being in the Marine Corps. He decided, however, to make the leap from the courtroom to something more exciting. For a time he was the president of Willie Nelson’s fan club, acting as his PR guy.
“He ended up here on Whidbey. Really, he could have gone anywhere and done anything,” Frause said. “But his light was really shining on Whidbey and he was so loyal to Whidbey and all its people. He kind of kept us all grounded in why we’re all here. He was such a good person and had such a kind heart.”
His sudden passing has come as a shock to many of his friends, who expected more time to grow older and grayer with him.
Drew Kampion described Freeman’s death as a “major planetary evacuation.”
“I can’t think of anyone’s departure that would have more broad ramification than Jim’s,” he said. “If you identified as a Whidbey Island person, he would be one of your associations.”
Others are wondering how Freeman’s shoes can possibly be filled during a time when community events are just beginning to return.
“He was just a positive force for so many on Whidbey,” Berta said. “It’s going to leave a gaping hole in our midst.”
His kindness and larger-than-life spirit will live on in those who remember him.
“It’s your loss that you didn’t know him,” Dente said. “Jim was the Conductor of Fun among us all.”
Jim Freeman emceed the Mutt Strut Dog Parade and Costume Contest at Bayview Corner from 2007 through 2017, where he took his duties very seriously. (Photo by Marian Myszkowski)
Jim Freeman, pictured here in 2019 at the Whidbey Island Car Show, was known as the Conductor of Fun. (Photo by Bruce Bell)
Jim Freeman, pictured here with Susan Berta, during a previous Welcome the Whales parade in Langley. (Photo by David Welton)
Freeland resident Jim Freeman was the voice behind several South Whidbey events over the years and a friend to all. He passed away June 19. (Photo by David Welton)
Photo by David Welton Jim Freeman made his home in a a 1928 Milwaukee Road railroad caboose, where he lived until his death.
Freeland resident Jim Freeman was the voice behind several South Whidbey events over the years and a friend to all. He passed away June 19. (Photo by David Welton)
