James (Jim) P. Steelman

The son of an Army career family living in Somers Point, New Jersey, Jim Steelman soon adjusted to frequent moves and the experience of enrolling at yet another elementary school.  But his father’s retirement and the family’s decision to settle in Fairfax, Virginia, allowed Jim to enter Fairfax High School as a freshman and graduate four years later.   He then enrolled at George Mason College and after two years transferred to the University of Virginia.

With a B. S. degree in engineering science and an interest in the possibility of a career with the Army, Jim enlisted.  Life in the service did not proceed as he had expected and he left after two and one-half years.   He returned to the University of Virginia and in 1974 received a second B. S. degree, this time in nuclear engineering.

Happy with this career choice, and well-equipped for finding employment, Jim secured a job as a nuclear engineer with the Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant in Maryland on the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay.  He retired in 2001, after 27 years with the facility, and remained in the area for several years before he moved to Charlottesville, intentionally making the change from a home near water to one near mountains. 

Among other retirement projects, Jim set about to convert records and cassette tapes to CDs and VHS tapes to DVDs, both for himself and for his brother.    This required a considerable amount of time, a perfect activity for someone retired. 

Jim enjoyed living in Charlottesville, but after researching and considering several continuing-care retirement communities, he decided on Westminster Canterbury of Lynchburg as his best choice.  Once settled in his apartment at WC, he plans to continue with his favorite pastimes:  reading, walking, collecting coins, and working with computers.