James Merlin (Jim) Seidule died on April 28, 2026 a month shy of his 95th birthday in The Villages, Florida. Jim was born in Flint, Michigan to the late Arnold and Beatrice Seidule and moved back to his parents’ home in Biloxi while he was still an infant. As a boy, he sold peanuts and newspapers to soldiers at Kessler Field during World War II and could (and would) recount every major battle as described in the New Orleans Times-Picayune. Jim lost his mother at age nine and his father at age twelve. As an orphan, the Episcopal Order of the Holy Cross sent him and his brother Arnaud to St. Andrews School in Tennessee.

He won a scholarship to the University of the South (Sewanee), where he played football and ran track. After graduation, he began teaching and coaching in private high schools, first at Castle Heights Military Academy in Lebanon, Tennessee and then at Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Virginia. For nineteen years, he taught European and American history at “the High School,” giving a quiz in every class, every day. As a coach, he led the Maroons to many victories and fifty years later could (and would) tell everyone about the play call on third and three. He earned the nickname "Straight Arrow” while running his feared “Perfect Play” drill during football practices. He remembered every former student and they remembered his words of wisdom, “No pain, no gain.”

In 1975, he embarked on a long career as a private high school administrator at his alma mater, St. Andrews, followed by stints as a head of school at George Walton Academy in Monroe, Georgia, UMS in Mobile, Alabama and The Tome School in North East, Maryland. After many years in leadership positions, he spent a decade teaching social studies and economics at Harrison Central High School in Gulfport, Mississippi. He retired after fifty-three years as an educator. In honor of his role at Episcopal, the school named the History Center after him.

Jim was an avid tennis player and won the Florida state doubles championship for his age group (90+) with his 97 year-old tennis partner - they were the only entrants. For many years, Jim took care of his older brother, Korean War veteran Staff Sergeant Arnie Seidule (U.S. Army, Retired), until his death in 2004.

Jim is survived by his beloved partner Almarita Harrington, his children, Ty (Shari) Seidule, Nancy (Dennis) Hauth, and Amy Seidule. Grandad Jim loved spending time with his grandchildren - Peter (Jill Biskup) Seidule, Wade (Brianna) Seidule, Abby (partner Kai Nealis) and Sophie (partner Andrea Baysa) and great grandchildren Philip, Lincoln, and Annie Seidule. Molly Gouge is the mother of their children. A memorial service will be held later with information posted on this site.

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