No matter what the context of the call, Jim Whymer always had a smile in his voice and a chuckle to follow any news he was passing along. 

The long-time Times Herald sports editor died early Thursday, leaving behind a legacy of passion for his community and family. He was 64. 

Whymer joined the Times Herald sports staff in 1978, staying 34 years until his retirement in the spring of 2012. 

He spent decades writing stories about athletes that were then clipped and hung on refrigerators and later filled scrapbooks. Whymer mentored young sports writers, encouraging their growth and helping to develop their voices. 

And he made it all fun. 

Over the years Whymer won several awards both from the Associated Press and the Michigan Press Association, and was inducted into the Port Huron Sports Hall of Fame in 2014.

Whymer officiated at baseball, basketball and softball games, and remained involved in area athletics when he joined the team at St. Clair County Community College following his retirement from the Times Herald. 

Whymer lived in Port Huron with his wife, Patty. They have three children: Traci, Kyle and Joel. 

Seemingly always the first and last in the newsroom during his career, Whymer constantly inspired others to be better. 

When asked to summarize his career in one word during his last evening in the newsroom in April 2012, Whymer said, “One word….amazing.”

Paul Costanzo worked for Whymer at the Times Herald for six years starting in 2006 before they both moved on to SC4. 

Costanzo, now the SC4 assistant director of admissions, said his relationship with Whymer was more than just coworkers. 

“For anybody who knew him, they knew how much he cared about this community and about the people he was writing about, and none of it was a facade. It was all real, it was coming from a place he meant it,” Costanzo said. “He stuck it out in this community and raised a family here and now they’re part of this community. He loved this place.

“That’s a cool thing, to create a legacy like he did here. I just hope he knows exactly how much we cared for him, too.”

Costanzo said Whymer made incredible connections and relationships with the community. 

He recalled going to an out-of-town high school basketball game with Whymer following his retirement. Costanzo said they barely made it to their seats before the start of the game because everyone wanted to catch up with Whymer. 

“That’s more important than winning awards or things like that, creating those relationships,” Costanzo said. “That was always something I wanted because I knew how much he meant. You just strive for that and you try to match that if you can.”

John Nogowski, who worked with Whymer as the Times Herald sports editor from 1989 to about 1993, said they spoke a few months ago, catching up on their kids’ accomplishments. 

“Everyone in town and probably everyone with in a 500-mile radius knew Jim and liked him. And I think that was a real tribute to the guy,” Nogowski said. 

He said Whymer had a way of bringing warmth and empathy into his interviews, no matter how hard the story. 

“It makes me think of that Will Rogers personality, the only person who wasn’t a friend was someone he hadn’t met yet,” Nogowski said. 

Mike McAndrews, head coach of the Cardinal Mooney boys basketball team, said he remembers his first interview with Whymer in 1998.

At just 23 years old, McAndrews said it was his first time talking to the press as a head coach. 

“Nervous as could be and he just made me feel like a pro, made you feel important,” he said of Whymer.

And being a small school didn’t stop Whymer from highlighting them, McAndrews said. 

“He made us feel important, he made our kids feel important and he was always ready to go out of his way to help you,” he said. 

Whymer helped put Blue Water Area prep sports on the map, McAndrews said, adding the loss is “devastating.” 

“Without question I think what he’s done for the student athletes in the area is second to none … I think that’s the legacy, lifelong memories and stories they’ll be able to share with their family, and he was a heck of a storyteller in his writing and work,” he said. 

Service arrangements are being handled by Karrer-Simpson Funeral Home. 

Contact Liz Shepard at (810) 989-6273 or lshepard@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @lvshepard. 

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