James Wesley Conklin

James Wesley Conklin, 25, of Plymouth, died suddenly on October 28, 2016, of post-surgical complications.

James was born in Littleton, NH on September 6, 1991, the second son of Michael F. Conklin and Deborah R. Reynolds of Plymouth.

James attended Plymouth Elementary School and Holderness School. He graduated from the University of New Hampshire in 2013 with a bachelor's degree in English.

During James' education, he developed a love of acting, especially through his involvement with the Educational Theatre Collaborative in Plymouth. This experience prepared him for the love of improv comedy he discovered during his years at UNH. He was a member, and in his senior year, director, of the UNH improv group, Improv Anonymous, performing regular shows for students and other groups. Prior to his graduation, James decided to pursue his love of improv as a career. He chose Chicago, arguably the improv capital of the world, to further his ambition. Before long, James was on a house team at iO Theatre ("Scout") and later joined a similar team at CIC theatre ("Macy Ledbetter"). He performed at these venues regularly, and for the last year or so, had also been employed by Evil Apples as a writer for its online game apps, a job he truly cherished.

James' dream was to land a comedy writing job in New York, a goal he was enthusiastically working toward at the time of his passing.

Besides his parents, James is survived by his brother, Michael C. Conklin, of New York, NY, his maternal grandfather, Ralph W. Reynolds of Holderness, NH, and his maternal step grandfather, William R. Gates of West Chester, PA., as well as his aunt, several uncles and cousins.

Contributions in James' memory may be made to the James Conklin Memorial Improv Scholarship for the benefit of students at iO Theatre in Chicago at the following; https://www.generosity.com/memorial-fundraising/james-conklin-memorial-improv-scholarship or to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center.