I wanted to present my sincere condolences to your family as I was very sorry to hear about Jim’s passing. Jim has had a profound influence on my career by offering me the opportunity to join the European Doctoral School for Demography back in 2005. There, I learned a new skillset that gave me an edge and openned many doors, include those of Academia, as I am now a professor of population ecology at Colorado State University. It’s also in Rostock that I met numerous collaborators, the best of friends from around the world, as well as my husband (we now have two children). Jim took a chance on me by supporting my dissertation research on seabird demography. Both my professional and personal paths were set up for success thanks to his support, and for that I will forever be grateful. Jim was a visionary thinker filled with enthusiasm who touched the lives of so many. He will be greatly missed.