Reverend James Stephen Putney went home to the Lord on Tuesday, August 14, 2007, passing peacefully in his sleep while a patient at the Brotman Medical Center in Los Angeles, California. He was 55. The popular and beloved reverend served as a chaplain in UCLA's Oncology Center since 1998, and was a faculty member of the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, mentoring medical students in the doctoring program.

Rev. Putney is survived by his beloved wife of eight years, Dr. Lin Morel, of Los Angeles, and by many family members residing in Saco, Maine, including his parents, Marie and Elbert Putney; his brother Richard David; his sister Ann Marie and her husband Ross Saunders; his two nieces Adelle Marie and Alana Mae and nephew Reece Owen, as well as several aunts and numerous cousins. His brother Paul Alan predeceased him in 1970.

Rev. Putney was born on November 16th, 1951 in Portland, Maine, the son of Elbert and Marie Fournier Putney. He was born with Morquois Syndrome, a birth defect that influences how bone develops. By age 21, he had undergone 12 orthopedic corrective surgeries in an attempt to help his legs grow straight.

He graduated from Thornton Academy in 1970. After high school, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue his dreams in professional theater. He was a stunt extra in Under The Rainbow with Chevy Chase, Alan Arkin, and Carrie Fisher.

Through friends he found his way back to religion and entered the Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena at the age of 40, becoming an ordained minister. He has been the chaplain in the Pastoral Care Department at the UCLA Medical Center since 1998, where his primary responsibility was to care for the spiritual and emotional well-being of patients, specifically those in the oncology department. He worked with doctors, nurses, social workers, and other hospital staff to ensure that the whole person was being cared for- mind, body, and soul.

He was married in July of 1999 to Dr. Lin Morel, who was drawn to him through his love of poetry, God and life in general. Lin describes James as a most awesome man and wonderful husband. They lived in Los Angeles with their cat Nubie.

In 2001, James received the Thornton Academy Distinguished Alumni Award, and in 2007, the UCLA Healthcare Team Member of the year. Several media outlets profiled his work, including, NBC "Extra"; PBS, the Discovery Channel; and Channel 13 KCOP in Los Angeles, who named him "Hero of the Week" in 1999.

James lived his faith, and was brilliant and a gifted conversationalist who could talk on any subject with amazing knowledge, and immediately made a personal connection. The intimacy that he learned from being with people who were ill contributed to a soul-centered way of communicating. One patient said that the world has lost a precious soul.

James loved poetry and used the form to write about his experiences. Each patient he counseled became immortalized in "Over A Thousand Petals," an ongoing poem where he wrote several lines about the person's significance to him. His wife is working on a book about his life and will publish his poetry. He was on the advisory board of the Erika Whitmore Godwin Foundation and helped to develop a DVD for parents who have lost children. For more information you may go to www.griefHaven.org. He was instrumental in developing a course on Human Relationships for improving doctor-patient understanding to help interns at the UCLA Medical Center. He ministered to others right up to his death and he has touched millions of lives through his documentary and DVD's. For more information about James and to read his poetry you may go to his website www.jamesputney.com.

A service will be held at the Vineyard Christian Fellowship in Mar Vista, California on August 25th. A memorial service will be held on August 27th at UCLA Medical Center. A Memorial Mass will be held on September 21st at Notre Dame Church in Saco, Maine at 9:00.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to his parents. His books and poetry will be available in the near future for purchase. You may sign up at his website for further information and to see a brief video about his life. Donations may be made to continue his ministry and help publish his works including a children's book called Salmon and the Fisherman. All proceeds will go to support his favorite charities.

Please include in the comments section through PayPal what you would like your donations to go toward: his parents or his ministries.