Jim MacDougall

Former Silverton resident Jim MacDougall died July 1 in Florida. He first came to town in the mid 1970s to visit family, and before long, he had made Silverton his home. He partnered with his brother Bill in buying and operating Triangle Service Station and Motel on Greene Street.

Jim was often behind the counter in the auto parts desk of Triangle Service, delivering bulk fuel to mining operations in San Juan County, repairing a flat tire, or installing chains on a vehicle during winter storms.

On occasion, he operated the Triangle’s wrecker truck, retrieving and towing vehicles that were unsuccessful at handling Hwy 550’s conditions. He served for several years on the Silverton Chamber of Commerce board of directors, and he had an Engineering degree from Northwestern University.

Born in Chicago, Jim spent much of his childhood messing around on various family boats with his brothers and sister. He also learned to ski from his father, who had served in the US Army’s 10th Mountain Division.

A blended love of the Rockies and being on the water was an enduring part of his life. That even included whitewater rafting-- and a week-long float through the Grand Canyon with a group of Silverton friends. Jim was an avid swimmer, lifeguard certified by the time he was 16, and he was also a certified SCUBA diver.

When not working, Jim focused on one of his two passions-- while in Silverton, it was skiing. That was often a weekly event on Purgatory’s black diamond runs, but he also enjoyed Telluride, Utah’s Alta and Park City, and ventured north to Montana to ski the powder. During summer months, Jim would head out of town in a Jeep, searching for a high country slope that held enough snow for a few turns. He loved the chance to ski in July.

Jim’s other passion-- sailing on the ocean. He spent much of his life on a boat, exploring Florida Keys, Bahamas, and most of the Caribbean Sea, even as far south as coastal Venezuela. He was a US Coast Guard licensed 100-ton Master Captain. Jim sailed large charter boats, and he did yacht deliveries for clients. He moved from Silverton to live aboard his own sailboat in the Caribbean, as well as on a small island within the US Virgin Islands. In 2007, Jim sailed across the Atlantic Ocean on a 47 foot sailboat with 2 of his brothers, from Gibraltar to the Virgin Islands.

Jim will be sorely missed by: mother, brother, sister, nephews, niece, great nephews, great nieces, and most especially his best friend, brother Bill-- “Hope you’re enjoying the beam reach and the perfect winds--miss you Bro.”