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Community Corner

Who's Who in Sonoma: Man Behind the Scenes Jim Lamb

There's a good chance you've seen Jim cycling through town, donning a bright yellow biking jacket

You may not know who Jim Lamb is, but he's had a hand in most organizations around town.

And, he's turned the into his own personal "Cheers" – literally, everybody knows his name. 

His enthusiasm goes above and beyond: By the time we'd sat down for his signature latte, the 79-year-old had already been to yoga, rode his bicycle to our meeting, and had plans for a bike ride again, in the afternoon with a friend. 

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He's modest about his contributions, but Jim and his late wife Charlotte moved to Sonoma in 1992 and immediately dove into the community.

While Charlotte initiated much of their involvement, he’s carrying on her legacy.

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Sonoma Patch: Where are you from?

Jim: I grew up in New Jersey, and went to University for a computer engineering degree.

SP: How current are you with computer technology?

Jim: It’s gone beyond me. I do like my iphone, though.

SP: When did you come to Northern California?

Jim: I’d gone to work for Chase and they bought a company in San Francisco, so I came out to run it in ’78.

SP: How did you end up in Sonoma?

Jim: I was living in Palo Alto, and met my wife Charlotte.  She and I were looking for a place to get away from the high tech stuff. We found a place in Sonoma, but couldn’t occupy it at the time. So she took a job at Schwab and we moved to Boston in 1991 for a year. We finally moved into our house in 1992.

SP: How long did it take to get to know Sonoma?

Jim: Charlotte got involved with the right away and we both joined the board.  She started the art program there.  And then she got the idea to start an art museum.

SP: So thanks to her we have the ?

Jim: Yes. Of course, there were other people involved.

SP: Are you an artist?

Jim:  No, but Charlotte was a ceramic artist. One of the things that attracted us to Sonoma is our house – it has a very long hallway, which makes a perfect gallery.

SP: Are you a collector?

Jim: She was a very good collector.

SP: What else in Sonoma garnered your attention?

Jim: We were both mentors.

SP: Mentors are passionate.

Jim: Four or five of us started the . Our sole purpose was to provide a living wage for the Executive Director.

SP: How do you spend your time now?

Jim: Not that much, really. I’m involved with the . And I’m on the advisory board of the Green Music Center at Sonoma State. I still help out at the Museum and, when they need it, at the Community Center.

SP: And you ride your bicycle. . .

Jim:  A friend and I took our bikes to Orgeon not long ago and rode down the coast.  It was supposed to be a 14-day trip. On the 13th day we rode from Gualala to Bodega Bay, where we’d planned to stay overnight. But I said, we know what this trip is like. Let’s do it.

SP: I’m beyond impressed.

Jim: We’d been doing about 65 miles a day and that was a 90-mile day. When we got back to Watmaugh Road, a friend came by in a truck and asked if we wanted a ride.

SP: And?

Jim: We got in his truck. After all, I’m going to be 80 in December.

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