Jim was born and raised in Eastern Pennsylvania (USA), in East Stroudsburg, approximately one hour and fifteen minutes from downtown Manhattan. He has been teaching Spanish for the past 14 years, and has also been a soccer coach at the school where he teaches. He is presently the Assistant Varsity/Goalkeeper Coach with the girls Varsity team. He has been married to his wife Shannah, for over ten years. Shannah, Jim and their three dogs Snitches, Sadie and Stewart (chihuahua and chihuahua mixes) enjoy travel, and have ventured throughout the United States (east of the Mississippi River) and also to Ontario and Quebec, staying at over 40 different AirBnBs. Due to a struggle with undiagnosed (eventually diagnosed) clinical depression and anxiety, Shoopack has used exercise and marathons to serve as a mental health advocate and face his mental health challenges. He suffered for 100 days in silence, not knowing how he felt had a name, and hopes to complete 100 marathons to get back the 100 days he lost due to undiagnosed depression. He has presently completed 21 marathons (26.2 miles/42km), including 4 marathons in 4 months in 2016 and 3 marathons in 3 months in 2014. He also recently earned his Educational Doctorate (EdD) in September 2020, and cites his faith in God, and help from family, friends and faith in self to help him overcome.
