BOMBER MEMORIAL

BETTY JO WOODS GIMARELL ~ Class of 1951
September 14, 1932 - December 20, 2013

Betty Jo Woods Gimarelli ~ September 14, 1932 - December 20, 2013
and
James Richard Gimarelli, Sr. ~ November 12, 1927 - December 20, 2013

They fell madly in love with each other on a blind date more than sixty years ago... a true love so enduring that it carried them off together to eternal life on the very same day, a mere eight hours apart. Jim was one of nine children born in Portland to Vincenzo and Grace Gimarelli.

Also one of nine children, Betty hailed from Garden City, MO, the daughter of Edgar and Nellie Woods. The two were joined in holy matrimony on August 14, 1954, and began a very happy and full life as husband and wife. Residing in southeast Portland all of their married life, Jim and Betty were wonderfully loving and involved parents for their two children, Sue and Jim Jr., raising them in the Catholic faith and making the sacrifices necessary to provide them with a strong Catholic education. Throughout his more than four decades in the hospitality industry, Jim was "a people person" who quickly built a reputation for cheerful and dedicated service towards visitors to our community. A conscientious and hard worker, he served first as a bellman at the old Multnomah Hotel, followed by a 35-year stint as bellman, bell captain and concierge at The Benson Hotel. Jim was the first concierge in Portland and one of the founding members of Les Clefs d'Or USA, the international association of concierges. While at the Benson, he enjoyed many memorable encounters with a variety of notable visitors, be they performers, athletes or U.S. presidents - but his favorite guests were always the ordinary travelers who came to Portland to discover the beauty and rich culture of his hometown. Jim's priority was evident: Make each and every guest feel warmly welcomed, comfortable and important. As a result, he became widely known as "Mr. Hospitality" throughout Portland and beyond.

Gifted as both a businesswoman and artist, Betty served as Executive Director of the Metropolitan Business Association in the late 1970s and early 1980s before buying the gift shop at the Hilton Hotel, naming it Christopher's after her and Jim's toddler grandson. In 1988, Betty founded the Ornament Division of Christopher's, Inc., as the Artist-Designer of The Portland Ornament™ and, five years later, of The Seattle Ornament™ as well. This 2013 season marked Betty's silver anniversary as "the ornament lady" - her 25th year of providing her beloved City of Roses with a special and unique gold-plated ornament to call its own. Betty believed hugely in the theme and focus of this year's ornament - It's a Wonderful Life - celebrating the "wonderful life" that she and Jim shared and celebrated each and every day. Knighted by the Royal Rosarians in 2012, Betty joined Jim as an unofficial ambassador of our fair city, both sharing their gracious and generous spirit with everyone that they met.

Above and beyond everything else, family was the most important part of Jim and Betty's life.

They are survived by their daughter and son-in-law, Sue and Brad Harris; grandsons, Chris (Siobhan) and Matt (Gina); great-grandson, James; their son and daughter-in-law, Jim Jr. and Bebe Gimarelli; granddaughter, Carolyn; great-grandson Zachary; Jim's sister, Josephine Granato; and Betty's siblings, Robert Woods and Virginia Hogue. Other survivors include a large extended family and a wide circle of lifelong friends.

Throughout their final days, Jim and Betty were cared for with great compassion by the nurses, social workers, chaplains and doctors of Providence Portland Medical Center.

A remembrance Mass in celebration of Jim and Betty was held January 11, 2014, at St. Ignatius Church, followed by a reception at The Benson Hotel.

To honor their passion for and belief in the importance of Catholic education, contributions may be made to a memorial scholarship fund in honor of Jim and Betty Gimarelli at La Salle Prep, 11999 S.E. Fuller Rd., Milwaukie, OR 97222.

Mosh and Posh, we love you with all of our hearts and will carry you with us in spirit each and every day. You were the most wonderful parents, grandparents and great-grandparents any of us could have ever asked for... Thank you for always, always making us feel so well-loved. Here's to great happiness in Heaven - holding hands, dancing up a storm, making each other smile and writing the next chapter of your love story for all eternity.

Published in The Oregonian from December 29, 2013, to January 1, 2014.