I think a lot of what pushed him to say this came from some of his life experiences. He experienced feeling stuck in a job he hated - the rug business - and he made the move to leave that after talking to a man he never saw at Mass Eye & Ear when both were bandaged after eye surgery. The man - who was older - told him he would always regret it if he didn't try to follow his passion.

Jim left the family business after that despite having two young children and worked odd jobs to make ends meet while he started building a bass for his idol Chris Squire of the band Yes. And though the business of building guitars did not thrive he found great joy in helping musicians get the most out of their instruments in his many years of repairing and customizing. He loved just talking to those who came through the doors - not just about their guitar but about their life. Some days he would come home and complain that the shop “was a revolving door and he couldn't get his work done.” And then he would follow that with “but I am so lucky to have people who want me to work with them.”

 And too many times he came home telling me about a customer who came in to say goodbye due to a terminal illness or to tell him of some other life changing event. He felt incredibly fortunate that his son not only survived a horrible accident but recovered almost completely.

He also loved being able to play music especially with Ronnie and the Broadcasters and The Band That Time Forgot. Never took it for granted.  We often would look at one another - especially on Sunday afternoon/evening - and just say what a good life we had. We both had experienced marriages that didn't work out so we valued our great relationship and an extended family that came about as a result.

So I think he was speaking sincerely when he called himself the luckiest man. He really did feel blessed to be doing what he loved and to be surrounded by family and friends who loved him. He loved that we found and were able to buy our house and was so happy just doing little projects here.

I don't know if you know this but he actually did a talk after church - I think Fall of 2016- on living with joy and gratitude. I wish I had been there but I did get to hear some of his prep for it at home. He always had hope in his heart for humankind and said that we don't hear about the many kindnesses as much as we hear about the problems. More than anything, Jim wanted everyone to experience some of the joy and gratitude that he approached life with every day.

Michele Mouradian

“I am the luckiest man you know and I don’t even know who you know” -Jim Mouradian

There has been no single person in my entire life closer to me that my dad. I can say that without any fear of exaggeration. We shared much together in the 45 years we shared. His version of reality is well encapsulated in the quote above. It is a version of reality that we shared.

He saw each day as a precious and unique gift.

He saw each human as a fellow traveler through time and space.

He counted himself blessed.

That is what made him the luckiest man.

He made himself the luckiest man.

He took nothing for granted.

He knew the brevity of life.

He was thankful for every moment.

That is what made him the luckiest man

He made himself the luckiest man.

There were many blessings he would share with you.

His wife, his family, his music, his career, his passions.

I have no trouble saying that above everything else, he placed my brother and me. That is what a father does for his babies.

We lived through the greatest of joys and the greatest of sorrows together. He watched as I gave Jon a tour jacket and took him on the road. He watched us both as we worked together with him at the shop. He watched my band as I played the bass. He watched my brother build awesome cars.

He watched my brother serve my needs in my darkest hour.

He watched me offer my brother the help he needed when I could serve him.

We both are thankful to have reflected our dad’s love and care right back to him through our love and care for him, for one another, and for so many others.

That is what made him the luckiest man

He made himself the luckiest man.

JT Mouradian