James Benjamin Atleson
September 24, 1938 ~ October 23, 2022
Resided in:
Cape Elizabeth, Maine
James B. Atleson
1938-2022
Cape Elizabeth - James B. Atleson was a Distinguished Teaching Professor Emeritus at the State University of New York at Buffalo, having taught labor law and related courses to many hundreds of students for over 40 years. He authored numerous books and articles on labor law and labor history, including the seminal 1983 book Values and Assumptions in American Labor Law. A labor arbitrator for several decades, he resolved many hundreds of individual employment disputes. He received his law degrees from Stanford University and Ohio State University, where he was Editor-in-Chief of the Law Review. Throughout his life, he allied himself in mind and spirit with the working people of the world, their rights, and their struggles.
Apart from the world of law, he was an inveterate and unrepentant banjo player and aficionado of old time music, playing in his own group, the Hot Cargo String Band, and with a community of musicians in New York, Maine, and elsewhere.
He was born and raised in Akron and Cleveland, Ohio. With his wife of 61 years, Carol, he moved to Cape Elizabeth in 2006. He is survived by Carol; their two sons, Michael and Jonathan; two grandsons; and his sister Joyce.
Services are private. Arrangements are under the direction of the Conroy-Tully Walker South Portland Chapel. To view Jim's memorial page, or to share an online condolence, please visit www.ConroyTullyWalker.com
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My family and I spent many late-night hours sharing tunes with Jim. He was especially kind to our son Nate when he began playing music as a teenager. Jim was a true gentleman and will be greatly missed in many musical circles.
Oh no! He was so kind to me, always so friendly when I’d see him at banjo workshops. I am going to miss him so much!
I am one of Jim’s many banjo friends. I wrote quite a few clawhammer tabs for Jim. His requests often introduced me to new tunes that I enjoyed as well. Jim was always engaging and appreciative. My thoughts are with his family and many friends.
Jim was a weekly customer at my home bakery. When he came to pick up his order he would always take the time to catch up with me and tell me story about his week. I always work till alone so it was nice to have a visit I think he knew that. Thank you Jim
One of the highlights of my legal education was having Professor Atleson for labor law. He was a dedicated and inspiring teacher. I was one of the lucky ones at UB Law to take his course and get to know him a little. Condolences to his family on their loss.
Jim was a treasured friend, not only for his fine banjo playing, but also for his funny and wise commentary ranging from interpersonal relations to national news. He was an understated but strong force behind so many great jams. I most remember his clever name for our band at Mars Hill Old Time Week – we played the tune “Last Chance”, as the Last Clear Chance Stringband – from “…a doctrine in the law, holding that the party with the last clear chance of preventing harm, is the responsible party.” – JC Miller
So sorry to hear of Jim’s passing. Fond memories of playing with him in the Hot Cargo String Band.
I first met Jim fifteen years ago as a scared beginner fiddler at my first music camp, Mars Hill 2007. Jim was enthusiastic about everyone’s playing, even scratchy newbies. He was incredibly welcoming & non-judgmental. He even asked me to play in the student showcase with his band, which became an annual tradition I looked forward to every summer since. A few years later we rode out Hurricane Sandy together at Fall Augusta in Elkins — no electricity or water but some fine music-making.
James was a customer and a friend, so sorry to hear of his passing.
I can imagine what a great person James was because he raised Mike, an amazing, smart, warm, wonderful person with a great sense of humor. I’ve been lucky to know Mike for many years, and I’m sorry I did not get a chance to meet his dad. I’m thinking of Mike and his family.
I played music with Jim over the last 10 years or so. The banjo group moved around town closing down place after place that we played at. At last playing out side at Post Office Park, no one could stop the music and Jim was a big part of keeping the group together. He will be with us always when ever we get together to play the old timey fiddle and banjo tunes.
I am so sorry to hear of Jim’s passing. We had not been in touch for a number of years but he always was a very special person in my life. I first met Jim in the 70’s when I took his basic labor law class at SUNY Buffalo School of Law. I then took every other labor law class he taught. I was very lucky to be in a law school that offered all of Jim’s courses – it was quite unusual to have more than one labor law course and even more unusual to have a faculty member who was pro-worker. Jim was one of the most supportive faculty members and was highly thought of by his students. As time went on I considered him a mentor and a friend. I spent my entire work life in the labor movement and we would visit when the opportunity arose. His book “Values and Assumptions in Labor Law” is a classic in examining the unspoken underpinnings of labor law. His support of pro-worker labor law lives on.