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When Dr. James Violet’s memory began to fade, his wife, Darlene, knew that she wouldn’t let his deep love for sports and unwavering dedication to healing fade, too, when he passed.
Instead, these passions would shape his lasting legacy in the community — formed at the intersection of the two things he cherished most besides his family: sports and medicine.
After a courageous battle with Alzheimer’s that ended in 2019, Darlene channeled her grief and heartache into something enduring: a memorial fund in Jim’s name through Stark Community Foundation.
Today, the fund keeps his spirit alive by supporting the future generations of medical professionals and student athletes within the communities that were integral parts of their lives.
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Jim’s love for sports blossomed early in life.
Growing up on his family’s farm in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, he attended a small school where there were only 14 boys in his class. With such a small number of classmates, sports naturally became a central part of their lives. He played football and baseball, savoring every moment on the field.
His passion for sports continued while playing football in both high school and college at Bowling Green State University. His journey led him to medical school in Kansas City, Missouri, where he decided to specialize in orthopedics, a decision that would intertwine his love for sports with his professional calling. Jim completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at Grandview Hospital in Dayton, and later, a fellowship in sports medicine at the Cleveland Clinic.
The Violets knew that the Canton-Massillon area has a deep-rooted sports culture, so when Dr. David Smith was searching for a partner, relocating to Canton was an easy decision. It was a meaningful move that led to Jim practicing orthopedics and sports medicine for nearly 40 years.
Throughout his medical career, Jim cared for countless athletes of all ages, but had a particular fondness for high school athletes. He served as the team physician for several local schools, including Fairless and Tuslaw. He even opened a Saturday sports clinic, where no appointments were needed, making it easier for athletes and their families to seek care after games.
Even after his official retirement, his passion for sports and medicine never waned. He served as the team physician for the Canton Charge, the Cleveland Cavaliers’ minor league team, for a year.
After retiring, Jim began to notice a decline in his mental sharpness. Understanding the importance of early detection and planning as a medical professional, he underwent testing and was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.
Darlene recalls a poignant moment when a doctor handed her a brochure on Alzheimer’s support, “I told him I don’t need this right now,” she said. “He looked at me and said, ‘But you will.’”
From that moment on, Jim and Darlene discussed their next steps together. After living and raising their two children in Canton for 40 years, the Violets decided to move closer to family. They relocated to Peoria, Illinois, where their daughter, Meredith, and her family lived. Their son, Matthew, and Jim’s mother also moved with them.
“We wanted Jim to be around family for as long as possible,” shared Darlene.
The timing of the move proved to be meaningful, as they were able to remain close to their loved ones during the COVID-19 pandemic when connection became even more precious.
“Alzheimer’s is hard,” Darlene reflected. “You watch them slowly lose who they are.”
Jim passed away the day before Thanksgiving in 2019. In the wake of his passing, Darlene felt a deep desire to honor his life as a compassionate surgeon and avid sports fan.
“We had different passions,” she said. “I’m passionate about Shared Blessings, a nonprofit I started in Canton in 2003 and other nonprofits in the Stark County area. As for Jim, he was all about sports and medicine.”
With these passions in mind, Darlene established the Dr. James Violet Memorial Fundat Stark Community Foundation in 2020.
The fund was created to provide scholarship support to students pursuing careers in the medical field and financial assistance to nonprofits that offer sports, exercise and injury prevention programs—a fitting tribute to Jim’s lifelong commitment to both sports and medicine.
Since its inception, the fund has provided $40,000 in support to various causes across Stark County, including the creation of JRC’s wellness clinic that serves both seniors and children, scholarship support for students pursuing a degree in sports medicine at Kent State University and the purchase of anatomy coloring books for students in the sports medicine and rehabilitation program at R.G. Drage Career Technical Center in Massillon.
Jim’s memorial fund has also played a role in educating young student-athletes about the importance of education during Beyond the Game’s virtual summer camp during the COVID pandemic.
Darlene shared, “Jim would have loved this project. He always believed sports were a great way to build character and teamwork, while also keeping kids out of trouble.If kids had too much extra time on their hands, they might do something they shouldn’t. He believed sports offered a lot of advantages, like the need to keep your grades up in order to play.”
Looking to the future, Darlene hopes to support a potential symposium series for athletic trainers through Aultman Hospital, further extending Jim’s legacy in a meaningful way.
As Darlene and their family carry out Jim’s legacy, they honor his memory in a way that embodies the very values he lived by — compassion, service, education and the enduring spirit of teamwork.
Stark Community Foundation helps individuals, families, businesses and nonprofits achieve their philanthropic goals Learn more at www.starkcf.org.