Former president of the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy Alumni Society James Remes died Saturday, May 20. He was 67.
For the last nine years, Remes lived in almost total paralysis, a result of a stroke suffered during brain surgery.
Remes owned James Pharmacy in St. Paul, located at the corner of Randolph and Snelling avenues, for more than 20 years.
“He was a wonderful guy,” said University professor Robert Cipolle. “He would help students all year long.”
Cipolle, who was the dean of the College of Pharmacy when Remes was an active member of the college’s alumni society, remembers Remes’ efforts to ensure all students had good pharmacy placements, even in rural areas.
Cipolle also said Remes, along with others, committed an enormous amount of energy to the college’s teaching laboratories by going around the state collecting contributions (monetary as well as supplies and equipment) from his pharmaceutical colleagues.
“Today we have the finest teaching lab facility of any college of pharmacy in the nation,” Cipolle said.
Remes died at the Methodist Health Care Center in Minneapolis.
He is survived by sons Jim, Missoula, Mont., and Peter, Wayzata; daughters Susan and Patty, both of Minneapolis; brothers David and Michael, both of Northfield, Minn.; sister Honora Remes, Saginaw, Mich.; former wife, Jean, Center City, Minn.; and one grandchild.

— The St. Paul Pioneer Press contributed to this report.

Fabiana Torreao welcomes comments at [email protected]. She can also be reached at (612) 627-4070 x3212.