James C. Acheson
We are saddened by the loss of our very good friend, James C. Acheson of Port Huron, who passed away on Sunday, April 2, 2023.
Jim had a love of three things: his family, boating, and giving back to his favorite communities of Port Huron, Michigan and Lighthouse Point, Florida. He leaves behind a powerful legacy of enjoying life while ensuring that those programs, projects, and organizations he treasured will endure.
Some of his happiest days were spent cruising the Great Lakes with family and longtime friends, or heading south out of Florida to the Bahamas with more friends.
Jim’s Father Howard was one of the founding fathers of the Community Foundation of St. Clair County (known as the Port Huron District Foundation) back in 1944, and was one of its longest serving board members.
Jim carried on his father’s legacy of philanthropy and served as a trustee of the Community Foundation from 1972 to 1990. In the late 1990’s, Jim began a decades-long period of giving back that is unprecedented in the Foundation’s 79 year history.
Jim & Sue Acheson
In recognition of his incredible spirit of philanthropy, Jim received the Russell Mawby Award from the Council of Michigan Foundation’s in 2004 and then in 2009 he received the Distinguished Service Award (DSA) from the Community Foundation of St. Clair County. Both awards are meant to honor extraordinary lifetime achievement in philanthropy.
He and his team, led by Donna Niester, began an intentional and deliberate plan to dramatically bolster the capacity and professionalism of the Community Foundation. They were a driving force behind recruiting and hiring the first full-time professional CEO, Randy Maiers, in 2002. He also made significant gifts to grow the Foundation’s Operating Funds and its Operating Endowment.
Although quite modest in his giving, his support and generosity were responsible for community assets which will endure for generations to come, such as Desmond Landing and the Maritime Center; the Performing Arts Centers at each high school in Port Huron; the Blue Water River Walk, which he gifted to the Community Foundation at Christmas of 2010; Studio 1219, the Youth Home, Community Renaissance Program, and Community Capital Club. He was also passionate in his support for McLaren Port Huron Hospital, Port Huron Police Department, Blue Water YMCA, Port Huron Museum, SONS, Mid-City Nutrition, the Tall Ship Festival, and everything that improved life on the south-side of Port Huron where he grew up.
If you would like to honor Jim’s life and his passion for giving back, click here. All gifts will go into the James C. Acheson Fund to support those programs, projects, and organizations he cared about.
Todd M. Carmody
We are saddened by the loss of Todd M. Carmody, 50, of Port Huron, who died Monday, March 20, 2023.
He was born April 20, 1972 in Port Huron to Janet and the late Gregory Carmody.
Todd was a 1990 graduate of Port Huron High School and was employed at Greene Manufacturing. He was the proud founder and moderator of two local Facebook groups, The Thumb (Michigan) and Experience the Blue, which promoted the Blue Water Area. Todd was also an avid fan of Michigan professional and collegiate sports and enjoyed craft beer tastings.
He is survived by his mother, Janet Carmody; brother, Ben Carmody; three nephews, Connor, Trevor and Brendan; several aunts, uncles, cousins, and many dear friends, including 37,000 Facebook followers.
Elizabeth Benjamin John
We are saddened by the loss of Elizabeth Benjamin John who passed away peacefully on Feb. 11 surrounded by her beloved family.
After getting married in 1967, she and her husband moved from India to the U.K. and later to Port Huron in 1976. While raising her family, she earned her MBA from University of Detroit and used her business acumen to manage her husband’s (Dr. Benjamin John) medical practice. Over the years, she became president of the Port Huron chapter of Toastmasters in 1995, the president of the board of the Bluewater Clinic from 1996 to 1998, and a teacher at Baker College of Port Huron in oral communications.
Her favorite pastimes were hosting elaborate dinner parties, tending to her beautiful garden, Zumba, Port Huron Formal Dance Club, running 5Ks, and swimming in her beloved Lake Huron.
Eileen Fredendall
The community will certainly miss Eileen Fredendall, a strong, selfless and caring role model. A women, who along with her late husband, Lawrence, were committed to advancing the well-being of others in the Blue Water area.
Eileen Fredendall, born in Port Huron, was a committed mother of nine, a registered nurse and a community volunteer. Eileen’s son, Dan Fredendall, and wife, Martha Foley, created The Eileen M. and Lawrence D. Fredendall Scholarship Fund in 2022 to honor their parents life-long work and ‘pay-it-forward’ commitment to others. They recognized that community college is an important bridge for many students to make the transition between high school graduation and success in a bachelor’s degree at the university level, particularly for a first-generation college student.
Learn more about Eileen’s life and legacy here.
The Community Foundation is honored to collect memorials for The Eileen M. & Lawrence D. Fredendall Scholarship Fund in her memory. The fund provides scholarships to students enrolled at SC4 in a nursing program or science technology, engineering, math-related program for an associate degree or intended transfer, with a minimum 2.8 GPA to apply and a preference for those with the most financial need. Recipients are eligible for award renewals if a GPA of 2.8 is maintained.
Shirley Platzer
The Community Foundation is saddened by the loss of Shirley Platzer, 82, of Port Huron, who passed away September 4, 2023
She was born March 10, 1941, in Port Huron to the late Sherman and Gladys Stone. She married Joseph William Platzer, and they were married for 47 years until his death on June 1, 2009.
Shirley worked as a waitress at Port Huron Golf Club and the Dorsey House and also at Super K-Mart for many years. She enjoyed bowling and golfing and especially loved her Monday morning women’s golf league at Leaning Tree. Shirley was a wonderful cook and a talented seamstress, known as the “apron lady” by many. More than anything, she enjoyed being with her family, especially her grandchildren. Shirley loved being “grandma” and could often be found supporting her grandchildren at their activities.
She is survived by her children, Elizabeth (Steve) Markle, Joseph (Nanette) Platzer and David (Carrie) Platzer, four grandchildren and two great grandchildren, a sister, Janet Fair, brother-in-law, John Platzer.
