James E. Lassi

James E. Lassi, age 64, died Saturday, December 14, 2019 at Hunterdon Medical Center in Raritan Township NJ. Born April 22, 1955 in Roselle NJ, Jim was the son of the late Victor and Dorothy (Meyer) Lassi. He grew up in the Roselle/Cranford area and received a Bachelors Degree in History from Kean University. Jim was an avid collector of political memorabilia, which started at the young age of 13 when he collected his first button during the 1968 Presidential election. As a teenager, Jim and a high school friend would make trips to Washington DC to witness the US Government in action during various sessions of Congress that were open to the public. Along the way, he made sure to collect additional memorabilia that fueled his passion. Jim was especially proud of the Presidential memorabilia that he collected from Presidents John F. Kennedy and Franklin D. Roosevelt. Jim’s other passions included a collection of model trains that he started with his son, Jimmy. He was also a fan of the original ‘Rat-Pack’ entertainers, especially the late Frank Sinatra. He and his wife, Brenda, enjoyed many trips to Cape Cod and the Northeast where they made a point to seek out the different Presidential residences in those areas. Jim was a History teacher at Jonathan Dayton High School in Springfield (Union Township) NJ for 33 years. Most of all, Jim cherished the time spent with his two grandchildren, Charlotte and Emma, who brought much joy to his life. Jim is survived by his wife, Brenda Vealey Lassi, his son, James R. Lassi of Florham Park NJ, his daughter and son-in-law, Krista and Robert Blackford of Flemington NJ, and his two twin granddaughters, Charlotte and Emma Blackford. Graveside services will be private at Cherryville Mountainview Cemetery in Cherryville NJ. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Holcombe-Fisher Funeral Home, 147 Main Street, Flemington NJ. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Jim’s name may be made to the National Kidney Foundation, 30 East 33rd Street, New York, NY 10016 For further information or to leave an online condolence, please visit www.holcombefisher.com.