A True Story

Jim Fattor fondly recalls a memorable picture of his recently deceased dad. The picture is one of Jim's favorites. It shows his dad, James Fattor, in 1930 standing next to his Big Brother Harry on a camping trip to California the two took to celebrate James' graduation from high school. Jim smiles as he reminisces about the picture and his father's eyes, saying, "He looked as if he could change the world."

James Fattor's father passed away when he was an infant, leaving his immigrant mother alone to raise five children on their small family farm on the outskirts of Denver. As young James grew up his mother knew a positive male role model would be an important asset in James' development. She turned to the newly emerging Big Brothers movement. In 1927, at the age of fourteen, James was paired with local businessman Harry Hasenauer. In the midst of the Depression a friendship was began that would last for many years to come.

Over the years, car rides, baseball games, and summer jobs, the two developed a life-changing relationship that lasted until Harry passed away. It was a friendship so powerful and significant that if James had had his way, Jim would have been named Harry in honor of his longtime Big Brother. At the pleas of his wife, James settled with making Harry Jim's godfather, rather than namesake. Jim remembers the him as "Uncle Harry."

James and Harry's mentoring relationship was recognized in a Denver Post article, September 1, 1929, lauding the impact mentoring has on the lives of youth. The article chronicles the summer James spent working for Harry at Denver's Fairbanks-Morse manufacturing company prior to his senior year of high school. Harry's influence on James would result in James being named Manual High School's "Head Boy" or top student at year's end.

James Fattor always told his son Jim, "I am the man that I am because of my Big Brother." The impact made by his Big Brother Harry was one felt right up to his death, and even now in his passing. When James passed away at 91 last March, he bequeathed in his will $5,000 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Colorado. It was his desire that the chain of friendships that Big Brothers Big Sisters is known for, and started in his life way back in 1927, be extended to more and more children throughout Colorado. James' donation will provide at least five new one-to-one mentoring relationships, including volunteer screening, training, activities for the matches, and professional supervision and support.

Now, because of Harry's mentoring efforts and willingness to be a friend to a child in need, and because of James' generosity, five more children will experience the life-changing impact of a mentoring movement started long, long ago. It is now, 80 years after the fact, we can understand why James, as he stood alongside his Big Brother Harry, smiled as if he could change the world.