James Louis Tamme

James Louis Tamme March 16, 2017 James Louis Tamme of Fort Myers, FL, 70 years old, went to join his creator on March 16, 2017 at the Bay Pines VA, C.W. Young Medical Center, St Petersburg, FL. Jim was born in Danville, KY on December 29, 1946 to Nancy M. (Coulombe) and James B. Tamme, both parents and two sisters, Suzanne Marie (Susan) and Regina have preceded Jim in death. He is survived by his brother Richard P. Tamme and sister Theresa N. (Tamme) Perez both of Dayton, Ohio. Jim lived in Dayton, Ohio most of his life until 1987, and periodically thereafter until he moved to Fort Myers, FL in 2008. Jim graduated from Holy Angels Elementary School and Archbishop Alter High School before attending Wright State University and Sinclair Community College. He served as a Mess Sergeant in the US Army stationed in Vietnam from 1966-1968. After his Army service, he was a drug abuse counselor and a mental health/mental retardation attendant at the Dayton Mental Health and Mental Retardation Center. He was charged up with raising social justice in the workplace so he became a public employee union representative, steward, and president with a high level of responsibility and success. He joined the OCSEA/AFSCME Union in the early 1980’s fighting for Ohio public employees bargaining rights and later became CEO of the National Education Association Staff Union before he retired. He was a lifelong Democrat and political activist, engaged in all aspects of the party and his philosophies. He leaves his lifelong best friend, partner and loving husband, Tim Dues whom he knew his entire life and loved for 44 years. He also leaves his brother Rick, sister Theresa, Brother-in-Law Moises Perez and caring nephews, Emilio Perez and Daniel Perez of Dayton, OH. He was the friend of many and loved by everyone he met. Cremation services will be handled by the Neptune Society of Fort Myers. A Celebration of Life will be held in the near future for friends and family.