Langham: Dr. James McCluskey

Wednesday, April 19, 2023 | 0

Yet another example of what has recently been too frequent.

Judge David Langham

In January 2022, I lamented the passing of Judge Robert Dietz. Robert seemed to me to be in the prime of life. That post noted that death comes to call more often as we age.

We are frequently blessed in our youth with little or no contemplation of passing. Certainly, the potential surrounds us throughout life, but it is often easy to ignore or to attribute as some concern of "the old." Then, contemporaries begin to pass and the reality hits home. We eventually become the old. 

I received a disturbing email on April 17 advising me of the passing of Dr. James McCluskey. Jim was on the program committee of the Workers' Compensation Institute, and I have served with him in that capacity for more years than I can remember. He and his wife, Diana, led the Give Kids the World outreach that began at WCI about a decade ago. Before that, I was familiar with Dr. McCluskey through work on various presentations.

The McCluskeys were rabid supporters of Give Kids the World. For the uninitiated, WCI attendees have been visiting the Give Kids the World Village on Saturday before the annual workers' compensation conference to donate time. I am sure that Diana McCluskey remains as devoted to that outreach, but it is difficult to picture her without Jim. I have enjoyed that outreach because of the opportunity to see this community in action. I have tried to attend regularly, until 2020.

It is strange to sit in 2023 and reflect on a worldwide pandemic that was just three years ago. We were confronted and challenged. Some were confounded and frustrated. The world changed, and we struggled with self-protection and maintaining professional obligations. We all knew someone who passed from COVID-19 or at least knew someone who knew someone that passed. The scourge touched us all. A great many people I know lived in fear, and some still do today. 

But for most of us, COVID has been long over. At least a year ago, the vestiges had largely disappeared. More recently, I noticed the post office had removed its plexiglass sneeze guards from the counter. It had apparently been waiting for the president to declare COVID over. But most of us had long ago been over COVID, whether it was over or not (it seems it was). There was relief when it ended, and I am more grateful than I can express that I was blessed to live in Florida throughout. 

But, in Dr. McCluskey's passing, I am reminded that there are many causes of death. Outside the immediacy of a pandemic, the passing of my contemporaries has become too frequent. Dr. McCluskey was significantly younger than I am, and it turns out he had been ill for several years. I had not noticed him suffering, but in retrospect, it strikes me odd that I did not see him and his wife at WCI last August. I had become accustomed to their presence, and having missed them in 2022 did not strike me until the email. 

The McCluskeys have been fixtures in the outreach effort of WCI. In the years I have known Dr. McCluskey, I have never seen him more animated or engaged than when he was discussing the community outreach that WCI enables and facilitates. His face would literally light up when discussing those who are in need of assistance in the world, and he was an avid advocate of the workers' compensation community, remaining engaged and involved. He was a cheerleader and advocate.  

There were many conversations over the years. But I will remember Dr. McCluskey primarily because of his passion for serving his community, this community — the world of workers' compensation. He advocated strenuously for our engagement and participation. He encouraged, cajoled and coaxed us to be more than we are. Dr. McCluskey believed in us, our capacity, our energy and our commitment. He reminded us we could make a difference. He was an exemplar and inspiration. 

He is survived by his wife, Diana. She, too, has long served on the WCI program committee. They were listed as co-chairs of the outreach effort, and their enthusiasm was collective. They were persistently immersed in this community and inspired by it. They led, they worked and they accomplished. Our community is less today because Jim has passed. He will be missed. His smile and enthusiasm will be missed. His leadership and commitment will be missed. 

I find myself writing posts like this too often. As we age, perhaps this is a natural progression. I find it troubling each time. Godspeed, Dr. McCluskey, and peace to yours. 

David Langham is deputy chief judge of the Florida Office of Judges of Compensation Claims. This column is reprinted, with his permission, from his Florida Workers' Comp Adjudication blog.