Cassell, James Ladd (Jim), 63, passed away on Wednesday, August 30th, 2006 in Bakersville, North Carolina.

Jim was born on February 23, 1943 in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and for the past ten years was a resident of Tierra Verde, FL. Jim was an avid golfer and sailor, with a lifelong passion for the sea. Jim began his sailing as a child on the Great Lakes. He crewed several times in the Mackinac Race and the Newport to Bermuda Race. He skippered his own boat, Capricious III, from St. Petersburg in the Isla Mujeres, Mexico Race. He sailed on “Young America” in New Zealand during the America’s Cup Trials and was very active on the fund-raising committee for “Young America”. Jim was a member of the St. Petersburg Yacht Club where he served on the Executive Committee and a member of the Isla del Sol Yacht and Country Club. Jim was a member of the Krewe of Venus, Tampa, Florida, and reigned as King Venus XXIX (1993-94) and again as King Venus XXXIV (1998-99).

Mr. Cassell was a graduate of the University of Michigan School of Business. He held leadership positions at IBM for more than 20 years before joining Gartner, a Stamford, CT. Technology Research Company, where he was Group Vice President and Research Fellow.

Mr. Cassell was a renowned expert in Large Systems Technologies and launched Research Centers in Australia and Brazil. At the time of death, Mr. Cassell was a Vice President at Saugatuck Technology. In 1997, Mr. Cassell testified before the House Oversight Committee in Washington DC concerning computer technology challenges facing the nation in the year 2000 (Y2K). He was interviewed many times on National TV and had international experience in Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America.

Mr. Cassell was the great, great grandson of U.S. President Chester A. Arthur and a lifelong Republican. Jim was always politically active and his daughter was a U.S. Congressional Candidate.

Jim leaves behind a son, James L Cassell Jr, of Ripley, MS, a daughter, Cynthia Cassell of Grosse Pointe, MI.; a twin brother, William Cassell of Ypsilanti, MI ; brother Frederick (Buz) McOmber and many wonderful friends who enriched his life.

A Memorial Service will be held at the St. Petersburg Yacht Club on October 7th, 2006.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donation be sent to the James L. Cassell Memorial Scholarship Found at the University of Michigan Business School. Contributions may be directed to: Stephen M. Ross School of Business; University of Michigan, 701 Tappan Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48109; Att: James L. Cassell Memorial Scholarship Fund. (734)763-5775)

I love you and miss you, Dad. Cynthia and Jimmy

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