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James Strazzella Obituary

James A. Strazzella
Wynnewood, PA
James A. Strazzella, 77, passed away very suddenly in Wynnewood, on January 28, 2017. Realizing he was having a cardiac event, he phoned for help, got his living will in hand and was unresponsive when the ambulance arrived. He passed away shortly thereafter at Lankenau Medical Center.
Born May 18, 1939 in Hanover, he was the son of Anthony F. Strazzella and Teresa A. (D'Alonzo) Strazzella. He graduated from Delone Catholic High School and treasured the fact that he grew up in Hanover, making as many reunions as possible and never failing to be driven around town to note the changes and visit old haunts. He loved going to garage sales and was an eclectic collector, many items of which he would give to students he advised, and was quick to tell a story about the item or some trivia.
He received his undergraduate degree with honors from Villanova University and his law degree from the University of Pennsylvania, also with honors. Following law school, he clerked for Justice Samuel J. Roberts of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and was an Assistant US Attorney in Washington D.C. In 1970, he joined the faculty of the University of Pennsylvania, where he served as vice dean of the faculty before joining Temple Law.
Professor Strazzella was an academic whose contribution to the legal community and commitment to criminal law reform never wavered. While at Penn, he was named chief counsel to the Presidential commission's investigation of the Kent State shootings. In 1987, he was appointed to head a state-wide task force on how law enforcement could improve its response to violence against children, elders and spouses. The task force's recommendations resulted in significant changes in legislation, policy, training, data collection, and public awareness of domestic violence. He also chaired the Pennsylvania Supreme Court criminal rules committee under five Chief Justices, leading the effort to unify and modernize Pennsylvania's criminal trial procedures.
His many public service positions include head of the state Bar Association's criminal law section and head of the Federal Bar Association's criminal law committee. He chaired the Federal District Court magistrate judges' appointment committee, the mayor's public safety transition task force and was a member of the American Law Institute.
With an abiding love for Philadelphia and its history, Jim was active in numerous public and charitable endeavors. As chair of the board of Smith Memorial Playground, he helped raise ten million dollars to revitalize the iconic North Philadelphia playground. The Fireman's Hall Museum in Philadelphia presented him with the Founder's Award in recognition of his work on behalf of that institution. He also served on many other boards and commissions in the Bala Cynwyd community.
"Straz" was a passionate and devoted professor and firmly believed in the Socratic method of teaching He said "the longer he taught, the less he taught" but still spent about six hours preparing for each one hour of class even after some 45 years of teaching basic and advanced courses in substantive criminal law, criminal procedure, and appellate procedure. His teaching was recognized by the Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching (1983) and the George Williams Award for Outstanding Professor (2010) and he was appointed to the first faculty chair at the law school.
Jim is survived by his daughter, Jill Dixon (James); grandchildren, Sonoma, Sawyer, and Slone of Apex, N.C.; son, Steven A. Strazzella (Christina); grandchildren, Mia, Mason, and Sophie of Washington, DC; son, Michael P. Strazzella (Kara); grandchildren, Allie and Meri of Arlington, Va.; daughter, Tracy A. Grazianio (Jerold); grandchild, Anna of Olney, Md.; and former wife Judy (Cappolla) Strazzella of Bala Cynwyd. Jim was predeceased by his parents and is survived by his brother, Henry J. Strazzella and wife, Jean of Hanover.
Jim touched and affected a lot of lives which is evident in the Law School Newsletter. He directed that there be no service and that the funeral be private. Family requests memorials can be made to Smith Memorial Playground, Fireman's Hall Museum Philadelphia, or to Temple Law Faculty Scholarship.

Published by Evening Sun on Feb. 4, 2017.
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Never forgotten .. still missed!

Janet (Eline) McMaster

Classmate

December 1, 2020

Jim Strazzella was a real institution at Penn Law when I was a student there in the early 70s. He was greatly admired for his keen grasp of the law, his warm hearted geniality, his great sense of humor, and his genuine interest in students. Best of all: He founded "The Straz Bowl," in which the male law students joined him in a game of ice hockey WITHOUT ICE SKATES at the Penn rink. The games were reportedly madcap. That was like him -- full of energy and fun and aware that law students badly needed breaks from their arduous routine. Although not in one of his classes, I would occasionally have the good luck to be taking a coffee break when he was around and had a chance to converse with him while injecting caffeine and bracing myself for more hours in Biddle Law Library. I see my fellow student John Sharer commenting on how valuable he found it to have a chance to interact with a faculty member on such an informal basis, and for me the chats over coffee were always rewarding and restorative. I am truly sorry to learn that he is gone, but I know he left a fine legacy and will be fondly remembered by the students who had the good luck to get to know him.

Ann Mayer

Student

November 30, 2020

I have just read of Jim's passing . I was looking at places in Philly to visit and remembered him from his visits to my antique shop on Topsail years ago so I looked him up and found this obit. Having only met him a few times over the course of 3-4 years I just wanted to share with his family that he made quite an impression on me and I am deeply sorry for their loss. I feel a loss, too. Anyone that knew him, however briefly, feels a loss, I imagine. I always hoped to see and talk with him again.

jinx taylor

September 4, 2018

I was a first-year student at the University of Pennsylvania Law School during his last academic year (1972-73) before he left Penn to join the Temple Law School Faculty. As a result, I always have remembered (and always will remember) him as "Vice Dean Strazzella" rather than Professor Strazzella. I had wanted to become a practicing lawyer for as long as I could remember. Nonetheless, my first year as a law student was very discouraging, demoralizing and lonely. Things did not improve. During our major Legal Writing assignment during my first semester, I was prepared to "throw in the towel," so discouraged had I become by the isolation of the sterile and institutional law dormitories of that era; the unedifying sense of competition that some of my classmates manifested; and by the attitude of some of the Faculty during my first year -- which was not "customer friendly" like many law schools today. Fortunately, early on in the first semester I had met Vice Dean Strazzella. We did not know each other well. Nonetheless, he would greet me and "give me the time of day" whenever I saw him in the Law School corridors, and he impressed me as a thoroughly decent person as well as a first-rate lawyer, administrator, and teacher. Therefore, I mustered up the courage to call the Vice Dean at his home over the weekend. He returned my call the next day, and he asked about my concerns and what he might be able to do about them. I explained that I was not sure that the law was for me. I cannot recall his response verbatim. Nonetheless, it was the decisive difference between my leaving West Philadelphia (and the law) or pressing onward with my studies and with my commitment to the profession. He gave me a sense of perspective, essentially urging me not to "go to pieces" over a Legal Writing assignment and a less than ideal learning environment in the law dormitories and, in some quarters, in the Law School itself. He did not frame the issue this way, but essentially he was urging me to wise up, act maturely, and to extricate my head from another part of my anatomy. I followed the Vice Dean's advice and, to borrow from Robert Frost, "that has made all the difference." I did not learn of his death until earlier today (May 6), when The Pennsylvania Gazette arrived bearing the news of his death, which shook me to my core. The memories of that pivotal and decisive telephone conversation almost forty-six years years ago came flooding back into my memory. I am, and forever will be, grateful to the Vice Dean for taking the time to boost the morale of a first semester, first-year law student when, no doubt, the Vice Dean had many other more important matters to which to attend. Over the years, I have remembered the Vice Dean with gratitude and respect. He also gave me the reassurance and certainty that a man (or woman) can be an excellent lawyer and exemplary individual at the same time. Thank you, Vice Dean Strazzella. I am confident you are enjoying your time in Heaven reunited with your parents and engaging in debates and discussions with the "legends of the law." But in my mind, you always will be "primus inter pares" where "legends of the law are concerned.

John D. Sharer

May 6, 2017

Jim was Acting Dean of Law when I was Dean of Arts and Sciences at Temple. It was one of the only times in my administrative career in the liberal arts that I worked so compatibly with the dean of a professional school. That was based on Jim's own intellectual pursuits and what he wanted for his students -- not just memory, rote, but critical appraisal and understanding infused with compassion. We morphed from academic colleagues to good friends, and when my husband, who loved Lunches with Jim, and who died shortly before Jim, became critically ill, Jim was unsparing in the ways he sought to help both of us in any way he could. I am stunned and saddened to learn of Jim's death and send my sympathy to the family he spoke of often and loved so dearly. I will always miss you, dear friend.

Lois Cronholm-Neff

April 6, 2017

Our prayers and condolences to the Strazzella family. Jim's support of the activities and efforts of the Fireman's Hall Museum during my time there as curator will never be forgotten. He always took time to say hello and ask how things were going. I will miss him. Harry and Nancy Magee

Harry Magee

February 10, 2017

Jim was a humble, compassionate, and generous friend. We are all poorer for his passing. I will miss him very much.
barbara schaff

Barbara Schaff

February 10, 2017

An outstanding professor and wonderful human being. My condolences to Professor Strazzella's family.

Martha Aleo

February 9, 2017

I took every course that Professor Strazzella offered at Temple Law. He instilled in me a dedication to doing the right thing in the right way in the myriad of situations anyone on either side of the courtroom faces in criminal law, and I am deeply grateful to him for it. My deepest condolencesthe family of a great teacher and lawyer and a fine man.

Stuart Wilder

February 8, 2017

My condolences to the entire family, keeping you in my prayers. I grew up in Hanover, class of l958 Eichelberger.

Pat (Berwager) Lehigh

February 8, 2017

We had some wonderful times at Penn Law and it was great to reconnect with him at the last few reunions. He was a wonderful friend.

Marian Pearlman Nease

February 8, 2017

Joseph Su

February 8, 2017

Joseph Su

February 8, 2017

A scholar, gentleman and leader in a time of tumult - he was acting Dean when I was at Temple Law. May he be remembered as a blessing to his family and may he rest in peace. His steady hand will surely be missed.

Temple University Law School, Class of 1989, Evening Division.

Diana Moro

February 8, 2017

My heart has broken.
May you lay down with peace and love.
Miss all you've done for me and my family while studying in US from 2012-2015.

Joseph Su

February 7, 2017

My sincere sympathy to the Strazzella family and to my good friend Judy Cappola Strazzella.

Love and Prayers

Rita Murphey

February 7, 2017

Honored to have known him.
Condolences to all family and friends. .

Jeff Davidson, Temple Law '97.

Jeff Davidson

February 7, 2017

Hello, My mane os Cheryl Young and Prof. Strazzella was my Criminal Law Professor at Temple University School of Law. My favorite place to study was theL classroom outside of his office and he would pop-in to offer me encouragement Like so many of my classmates, I was so saddened to hear that my favorite professor has passed away. I really enjoyed his lectures and thought that he was such a warm and caring person. He often spoke of his wife and daughters with great affection. He will be sorely missed. My warm condolences his family. Cheryl G. Young Temple University School of Law Class of 1979

Cheryl Young

February 6, 2017

February 5, 2017

Jim was a friend for over 50 yrs. I will always remember him as a dear friend. We send our sincere condolences to the entire family. May his soul Rest In Peace.

Barbara&Joe Onofrey

February 5, 2017

Jim, I knew you briefly but I cherish the memories I have with you. Rest in peace sweet soul.
Amanda

Amanda Jacobsen

February 5, 2017

I didn't know Jim very long, but long enough to identify an intelligent, devoted, class guy

Ed McBride

February 4, 2017

February 4, 2017

My deepest condolences to all who mourn this wonderful man, one of my favorite professors at Temple Law School. As a criminal defense attorney, I smile and think of him whenever I have a case involving accomplice liability. I missed the boat on that question in my Crim Law II class with him, which he pointed out to me at my graduation in 2000. If not for that and his good humored way of pointing it out to me, I would probably have made the same mistake when I sat for the NJ Bar exam two months later. I will always remember Professor Strazella wth fondness and respect.

Bonnie Geller-Gorman

February 4, 2017

My deepest sympathy to Jim's families. My prayers are with you at this sad time. He will be so missed. He was my classmate at Delone ('57)

Janet (Eline) McMaster

February 4, 2017

Rest in Peace Jim. You will be sorely missed by who had the priviledge of knowing you. Fireman's Hall Museum will not be the same without your devoted efforts on behalf of the museum.

I highly respected you and any suggestions you offered me to improve our museum.

Lee Ryan

February 4, 2017

I met "Lawyer Jim" around 8 years ago and we quickly became good friends. He was always there to lend an ear, tell a joke, discuss current events or educate you on some fun trivia.
I will cherish the beautiful stones he would give me and I will never forget his friendship.
The world was a much better place since he was in it. He donated to numerous causes and was a supporter of The fountain named after my Grandfather, Wild Bill Guarnere Memorial Fund.
RIP my dear friends. You memory will live on forever ❤

Debi Rafferty

February 4, 2017

Rest In Peace Jim ... you will be missed

February 4, 2017

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