James Andrew Herschel's Obituary
James (Jim) Andrew Herschel, 84, of Cinnaminson, NJ and Old Forge, NY passed away peacefully at home on March 31, from multiple medical conditions. He spent his final days telling stories, surrounded by family.
Jim was born on March 14, 1940, to Carl Andrew and Mary Louise Herschel in Hackensack, NJ, and raised in Montpelier, Vermont, where he developed his life-long love of skiing. After Jim graduated in 1958 from Montpelier High School, he went on to major in English at Saint Lawrence University.
He met his spouse of 58 years, Susan K Herschel, while attaining a PhD in English Literature from Syracuse University. He then taught at both Rutgers University-Camden and Glassboro State College (now Rowan University). In a radical departure for the time, Jim dedicated the bulk of his time to managing their household and raising their two daughters, Liza and Lucy, so that Susan could practice law. He also assistant-coached the Cinnaminson High School tennis teams from 1982 - 1992 and served as an elected official on the school board for 16 of the years between 1993 to 2014.
Jim was an avid skier, tennis player, sailor, water colorist and pun maker. He spent parts of every summer of his 84 years (and some winters) on Fourth Lake in the Adirondacks. His grandfather, Rev. James Ramsey Swain had purchased properties in 1919 from the Cohasset Point Hotel. Five generations of family still own property and see each other regularly along the South Shore Road of Fourth Lake. Jim is survived by his wife Susan, his sister Beth Gambler, daughters Liza and Lucy Herschel, step daughter Donna Fedorak, their spouses and 6 grandchildren.
A private family gathering will be held in Philadelphia in April and in Old Forge, NY in August.
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