Today's Featured Biography

 
Janita Diane "Jan" Coy Bischoff

I had my first ever date on December 4, 1959 with Jim Bischoff (SHS 1960). It was SHS v. Fairdale basketball game. This was followed by many other dates at sporting events. I learned it is colder at a U of L football game than it is in Antarctica. This should have told me something. I never dated anyone else, and married him April 18, 1962. We have four children, two daughters and two sons, and ten grandchildren - all God’s gifts.

All of our children have served in the military - both of the girls in the Air Force, one son in the Army and the other in the Marines. Our 9 year old grandson says he’s going to go into the Navy because Grandpa doesn’t have a Navy patch on his jacket.

I worked while Jim was attending the University of Louisville. We had two daughters and stayed in Louisville until 1969. Jim applied for a position as Technical Director and Plant Manager of E-Bond Epoxy, Inc. in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He got the job, and he moved to paradise the week before spring break. I stayed home, taking care of the 3 and 4 year old toddlers, preparing our home for market, hiring a real estate agent, selling the home, packing and arranging the move. All the while Jim was in Fort Lauderdale during 1969 spring break – I’m surprised he didn’t go blind.

Shortly after our move, Jim invested in a SCUBA business and started teaching. It was rough on him teaching all of the bikini clad students and going to the Bahamas twice a month. He didn’t make any money, but he did have a lot of fun and brought back a lot of lobster and fish. I tried SCUBA but learned to clear my mask with tears – finally giving it up when I realized I was too terrified and would be a terrible and unsafe “buddy” for anyone.

I worked briefly for Aloe Cream Laboratories in Ft. Lauderdale and then for Skytel Aviation. I really wanted to stay home, so I decided to keep children at home. I had five, plus my two. Kids were fine, parents were a pain, finances were getting tight, so I went back to work.

This time I was executive secretary to the President of Insurance Agency of America. The company recruited high school coaches to sell life and health insurance. One of my duties was to arrange for the recruiting meetings held throughout the state of Florida. I had to get the brochures together for the packets for the coaches at the meeting. The printing of the brochures was delayed, and I was behind schedule. I asked Jim if he would help me stuff the packets to ship to the meeting site. He agreed. During the “work” session he started reading the brochures.

Two months later, without any guarantee of income he quit his job and started selling insurance. He said it would give him more control over his time and more time with the family. That’s if the family fishes, hunts, bowls, dives, goes to the islands, plays golf, watches football, basketball, baseball and racing. Somehow he managed to do all of that and also did quite well in the insurance business.

After two years, my boss asked him to start a new agency in Georgia. The company would finance the agency for the first five years. At the end of the five years the agency would break even. We said OK and moved to Atlanta – now with the two girls and a 7 week old baby boy.

Jim did quite well but the financing stopped after a year. That’s when Jim decided to go to law school – so that he could work as in-house counsel for an insurance company. Obviously it was back to work for me for three years of law school. I thought we would finally be financially “well off” and I would finally stay home. Aren’t lawyers supposed to be rich? After his graduation I discovered a book in his car titled “How to Open a Solo Law Practice Without Missing a Meal”! Thus began his 30 year career in solo law practice.

Due to Jim’s compassionate and caring nature, he had at least as many “pro bono” cases (not necessarily on purpose) as he did clients who paid. Still, I wouldn’t have had it any other way. He was well-respected and highly regarded in the community as an honest lawyer. That is worth more than money.

I spent 15 years at a brokerage firm in Atlanta becoming a principal in the firm in charge of legal compliance and Director of Personnel. After the closing of that firm, I spent nearly 20 additional years with a manufacturing firm closer to home.

In October 2007, we went to the Florida v. Georgia football game in Jacksonville, Florida. Before the game, Jim had a heart attack. We spent our time in the hospital and didn’t get to the game. Unfortunately that was just the beginning of many future health issues, including a quadruple bypass in 2008. He had to retire from the stress and I left my job of nearly 20 years to take care of him – the love of my life. April 18th, 2012 will be our 50th wedding anniversary.

All of the above aside, I really have had a great life. I wouldn’t trade with anyone. I am blessed with four children who love me as I love them. My grandbabies are truly God’s greatest gift to me. The oldest is 25 years old and the youngest 13 months.

Jim still calls me Saint Jan. I still call him Mr. Needy. We have put up with (loved) each other for 49 years. Truly, he is also my Saint. Indeed, God has blessed us.

Update - January 1, 2013 - the beginning of a great new adventure. Having spent the last 3 years caring for my Mother in Pensacola, and also for Jim, we have now moved back to Georgia as my Mother passed away last year. Since having been diagnosed with COPD and Sleep Apnea early last year, his health has actually improved since being put on a CPAP and oxygen at night. He now has more energy and is actually working part time now for the State of Georgia in the Public Defender's Office of Fayette County. He enjoys his work and it does not have the stress levels of private practice. We have thoroughly enjoyed being back near our children and grandchildren, especially during this Christmas Season.

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