Administration’s imprint is seen in downtown livability
Former Mayor Jim Justin, whose decade of service to the city helped lay the foundation for downtown today, died Monday from complications related to age. He was 77.
Justin was Vancouver mayor for six years, from 1978 to 1984. He served on the Vancouver City Council from 1974 until his election to the city’s top spot.
Friends and political allies said Justin’s 10 years in city government were a natural extension of his long-standing interest in community service.
“He felt it was important to give back,” said his older son, Jim Justin Jr. “You’re not going to do it for the fame or glory. It’s tough work with long hours and few rewards.”
For years, Justin owned Photo Mart shops in Vancouver, and was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, the Elks, the Rotary and the Knights of Columbus.
His son said he can remember the exact moment his dad decided to toss his hat in the political ring — when he read a list of people who had applied for a vacancy on the council.
“He said ‘Know what? I think I could do that as well as anybody on that list,’” Justin said. Ten years later, he had presided over a changed city.
Justin worked to end gambling in the south end of downtown, his son said.
“He felt that downtown was important, and he wanted to make sure that downtown was livable,” his son said.
The younger Justin, a lobbyist for the Association of Washington Cities, said seeing his father’s dedication was the direct inspiration for his own career in politics.
A 33-year veteran of the Air Force, from which he retired as a colonel, Justin formed a friendship with former Army lieutenant colonel and current Vancouver Mayor Royce Pollard after Pollard moved to town.
“Jim is one of the mayors … who provided the foundation on which we’re moving forward today,” Pollard said. “He was a wonderful man who cared about his city.”
Justin served as Pollard’s campaign manager for every election until the most recent, when poor health prevented it, Pollard said.
Clark County Superior Court Judge Robert Harris, who is retiring, said he saw his friend of 45 years for the last time Sunday at a thank-you brunch, and cherishes the opportunity he had to see him one last time.
The two were close: Justin served as godfather to Harris’ daughter, and Justin’s wife, Janet, served as Harris’ bailiff in the courts for a number of years.
Their children played together and the families went on ski trips together.
Justin attended Harris’ brunch in a wheelchair, but took time to chat with many of his friends.
“Everybody has some pretty fond memories of having a chance to interact” with him before he died, Harris said.
Harris and Pollard both recalled Justin’s diplomatic side.
“Jim was a collaborator, he was a mediator, he tried to make things work,” Pollard said, adding with a laugh, “He’s been a calming influence on me somewhat. He always used to say, ‘Royce, let’s think about this.’”
Born in Portland in 1932, Justin attended the University of Portland and served three active years in the Air Force before moving to Vancouver to help his parents run the Photo Mart on Evergreen, his son said.
He and his wife, Janet, had three children; she died on Dec. 7, 1996, 13 years to the day before her husband.
Justin later sold the Photo Mart stores and became a real estate agent for Coldwell Banker in Vancouver, where friends said he continued his work to revitalize downtown.
His health had deteriorated for the last few years — troubles that included kidney dialysis and a major heart attack in December 2007 slowed him considerably, his son said.
But his often-understated mark is indelibly on the city, said Pollard.
“Jim just will be missed,” he said.
Justin is survived by two sons, Jim Justin Jr. of Olympia and Jeff Justin of Milford, Mich.; a daughter, Jennifer Hensler of Auburn; a sister, Mary Alice Johnston of Vancouver; and 12 grandchildren.
