James Vincent Pasquarelli - Obituary

ames Vincent Pasquarelli, Jr., “Jim” or “P-Square,” passed away peacefully at home on October 12, 2023, with his wife Margaret by his side. Jim was the oldest of three boys, born to proud first-generation Italian-Americans James V. Pasquarelli, Sr., and Matilda Morano Pasquarelli on February 1, 1941, in Greenwich, Connecticut. The close-knit family spent summers at the beach every day with big picnics his mother packed. His father, a professional musician, had his days free to swim with the boys. Jim attended public schools in Greenwich (after being a little too rambunctious for the Catholic parish school), graduating from Greenwich High School in 1958 then enlisting in the U.S. Air Force. He dreamed of flying, but poor eyesight kept him grounded. He tested well for foreign languages and was sent to Yale’s Institute of Asian Studies for 18 months, excelling in Chinese and launching his career. Jim would have been successful at whatever he chose to do. He chose to serve his country, first in the Air Force from 1958-1967, then as a U.S. Intelligence officer at CIA and NSA until 1993. He retired at 52, not because he wanted to relax, but because after 35 years of service, he said, “It’s been great, but I just want to do something else.” That something else was teaching. He had been an instructor in the Air Force and loved training, so he combined that with his computer expertise and went to work in the mid-1990’s for the Dundalk Community College after-hours program, training workers from the General Motors plant, Bethlehem Steel, and the Baltimore County police officers who were just getting computers in their patrol cars. His students appreciated that he was able to communicate in understandable English, not techno-speak. When he and his wife moved to Italy in 2001, the State Department hired him to do computer training at the U.S. Embassy in Rome and consulates in Florence and Naples – truly a highlight of his life and career. In 2004, he returned part-time to NSA where he developed a 2-week curriculum to train new analysts in the art of intelligence analysis. His students, mostly recent college graduates, christened the program “P-Square University” and proudly displayed the certificates he created for them, framed from The Dollar Store. One lifetime wasn’t long enough for Jim to accomplish everything he loved. He threw himself into everything he did. It was almost as though he had parallel careers: the serious classified government work and his devotion to things and people he loved most. Jim took his avocations to levels most would not. As an Air Force enlistee on his first overseas tour in Okinawa, Japan, in the early 60’s, a friend taught him the basics of the guitar. Unlike most self-taught musicians, who might play alone behind closed doors, Jim practiced constantly and became so good that he was able to fulfill another avocation – entertaining audiences at small clubs in Annapolis, D.C., and Baltimore in the 70’s. Later, he brought these talents to his class at the Armed Forces Staff College and to overseas assignments in Germany and Japan in the 1980’s, where he orchestrated Christmas parties for the kids, dance parties for the adults, talent shows, and hail and farewell tributes for departing colleagues. He loved being Deejay “Jimmie Vincent” during off-duty hours at KOPR, the Onna Point base radio station on Okinawa, a profession he thought of pursuing at one time. He loved to draw and was a good cartoonist – which led him to develop a comic strip, “Fat Man and Blobbin,” with his best buddy Leo and to improve his skills through correspondence courses. He discovered community theatre while living in northern Virginia and Annapolis in the late 60’s and 70’s. Whether working behind the scenes or on stage at the Summer Garden Theatre, Colonial Players, or various dinner theatres, Jim gave it everything he had. He loved being on the water, whether it was lifeguarding at Island Beach as a teenager in the 50’s or learning to captain his own power boat in the 1990’s. He was an excellent athlete, playing football in high school until he was “benched” by his father after breaking his ankle. He played outfield on the Air Force championship softball team that toured U.S. bases in the Pacific in the 1960’s. He left nothing undone. When he decided to take on a new project or direction, he was unstoppable. Jim is survived by his wife Margaret, brother Vince (Sherry), daughter Debbie Stewart (Fitz), son Jimmie (Cheryl Lonergan), and daughter Bonnie. He is also survived by 11 grandchildren, as well as brothers- and sisters-in law, beloved nieces and nephews, their spouses and children, and so many wonderful friends who remained part of his life for decades. He was predeceased by his parents and brother Phil. Jim’s life celebration will be held on Friday, November 17, 2023, at the Cape St. Claire Clubhouse (1223 River Bay Road, Annapolis, MD 21409) from 1:00-4:00 p.m. Family and friends will gather to visit at 1:00, and the ceremony will begin at 2:00. Food and drinks will be served throughout, exactly as Jim would have wanted. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Jim’s memory to the SPCA of Anne Arundel County (https://aacspca.org Donate link); to Maryland Public Television (https://donate.mpt.org/mptv/tribute); or to Partners in Care of Severna Park, who provided wheelchair transport services that allowed Jim to visit some local restaurants and get to medical appointments (https://partnersincare.org/donate).