Expression of love; new swing dedicated at Cd'A park

COEUR d’ALENE — Jim Edinger loved kids, which is why the new Expression Swing at Sunset Park is a fitting dedication to the softball umpire who was adored by so many in the community.

"He loved children, he loved being involved in their lives," said Jim's wife, Marie Edinger.

After nearly 35 years of faithful umpiring in the community, Jim died last July at age 77.

The Expression Swing is a single swing with two seats. A small child can be placed into one seat, facing opposite of an adult or older child and they can swing together. Two of Jim and Marie's great-granddaughters, 9-year-old Gianna Jenkins and 2-year-old Kira Maiuri, were swinging together Saturday afternoon during a small dedication ceremony at the park, 1355 E. Best Ave.

Marie and family held the ceremony to dedicate the swing and a plaque in Jim's honor. Out of Jim and Marie's family of five children, 12 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild, about 20 were able to attend.

Kathy Edinger Dingman, Jim and Marie's oldest daughter, said her dad would not have wanted all this attention.

"He was the most humblest man, so selfless," Dingman said. "But he was all about the kids. He loved the community, he loved softball and basketball, but his number one priority was his family, the kids especially."

"He would say, 'hurry up and get this over so we can go home and watch the game,'" added Sherri Hamley, Jim and Marie's youngest daughter.

Marie said many of the family members inherited Jim's love of sports — especially the girls. Kathy and Sherri recalled growing up and watching their father umpire every Sunday at Memorial Field, during which they would have a picnic at City Park before heading back and watching him umpire some more.

Jim was a casual man who liked jeans, hats and plaid shirts. Marie said, "if it was plaid, it was for dad."

"I miss him dearly," said Chuck Hines, Jim and Marie's son. "I miss seeing when he would get excited over something."

When something excited Jim, he would get a big smile on his face and rub his eyes.

The idea for the swing came from Marie's niece who works with the Coeur d'Alene Parks and Recreation Department and a good friend of Jim who recently retired from Parks and Recreation. The family wanted to do something in memory of Jim and thought the Expression Swing was a "great" idea.

Jim was an ASA umpire — chief umpire, in fact — for Parks and Recreation and officiated softball for men, women and kids games.

Jim loved Sunset Park because it was close to home, and the scoreboard is dedicated to a niece who died when she was 17. For those reasons, along with his love for children and softball, the park was the most fitting spot for the dedication.

Marie said Jim was a "wonderful umpire." The fans called Jim and his two brothers, Ron and Dick, the "three blind mice." The brothers would often umpire championship games together at Memorial Field in Coeur d'Alene.

"That was always a funny thing we would laugh about," Marie said. "I got to where I couldn't even go to the games because I got tired of people yelling at the umpire."

During the softball offseason, Jim would officiate basketball games as well. Jim achieved many awards and was inducted into the Idaho ASA Hall of Fame in 2005. The plaque, placed in a concrete slab near the Expression Swing, reads: "Donated in memory of Jim Edinger, a dedicated umpire and softball enthusiast."

"He was just very dedicated to whatever he did," Marie said. "He loved the game of softball. He was a Red Sox fan, loved the Mariners, Gonzaga basketball — he just loved sports."