Dr. James M. Jasper, 74, died Sunday, July 7, 2013, peacefully in his home. Jim was the son of the late James and Madelyn (Gilrein) Jasper. He was born in Worcester on May 21, 1939.

Jim Jasper was a writer, a public speaker and educator who specialized in reading and listening skills. He graduated from St. Peter’s High School in 1956 and continued his education at Worcester State College, where he received a BS in Secondary English Education as well as his ME in Education. He later received his C.A.G.S. from the University of Connecticut. Jim taught at Auburn High School, Tahonto Regional High School and in the Worcester Public Schools Learning Center before becoming Dean at Worcester Industrial Technical Institute and Assistant Director of the Worcester Adult Education Center. In 1977 he received his Ed.D in Reading from Boston University and was later a Hiatt-Harvard fellow at Harvard University for Education Administration.

He was past President and board member of the Worcester Public Library and past President of the Massachusetts Reading Association. Jim was a writer for Councilor and Mayor Tim Cooney as well as a radio announcer for WTAG and WCUW, both in Worcester, MA.

Jim retired from The Worcester Public Schools and went on to teach at the Burrillville Rhode Island school system for 12 years before retiring full time in 2001, when he and Ellie relocated to Florida. While in Florida, Jim taught at Flagler College in St. Augustine, where he was the Director of the Study Skills Center. Jim and Ellie volunteered in Learn to Read workshops to teach reading and ESL to adults. In 2004, they both taught English at the University of Shanghai, and literacy courses at the East Century School in Pudong, China.
Besides teaching and working with his students, Jim loved playing golf, fishing, traveling with Ellie, laughing and spending time with the people he loved. He was an avid reader and always had a stack of books waiting to be read.

Jim leaves his wife Eleanor (Tempone) Jasper of 19 years; daughters Maura and her husband Mark Perretta of Muncie, Indiana; Megan and her husband Brian Kimmell of Seattle, Washington; his stepson, Christopher P. Provo and his wife Pamela and grandson Theodore G. Provo (Teddy); his stepdaughter, Carol A. Zeitlin and her husband Hugh and granddaughter Arianna R. Zeitlin. He leaves one sister, Margaret Hebert of Worcester, MA and many nieces and nephews that he adored. His sister Madeline Sheehan predeceased him.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift to Flagler College. Checks can be made to “Flagler College” with “James Jasper Memorial Gift” in the memo line and sent to Flagler College, 74 King Street St. Augustine, FL 32084. Donations will go to the Flagler Fund, a general scholarship support fund.

A mass will be held at St. Peter’s Church, 929 Main Street, Worcester, MA at 10 am on Friday, July 26th.