William Lassen

William V. Lassen WILLIAMSBURG - William V. "Bill" Lassen died Oct. 9, 2008, in Williamsburg after a long illness at the age of 80. He resided in Lanexa Va., for the last 14 years, and was a former resident of Virginia Beach. He was a native of Bloomfield, N.J., born Feb. 14, 1928, the son of Clara and Frederick Lassen and brother of Doris Steinbracher. After graduation from Bloomfield High School in 1946, Bill enlisted in the Navy; he attended Seton Hall University under the Flying Midshipman (V-5) program and received his pilot's wings and commission in 1950. He was then assigned to Attack Squadron 15 (VA-15) flying AD-4 from the decks of the carriers Oriskany, Coral Sea, Leyte, Wasp, and Franklin D. Roosevelt from 1950-1954. From 1954-1957, he was assigned as a flight instructor with the Advanced Training Command and taught fighter pilot students at NAAS Kingsville, Texas flying F6F Hellcats, T-28 Trojans and later TV-2 and F9F-2&5 aircraft. From 1957-1960, Bill was assigned as catapult and arresting gear officer aboard the USS Antietam flying T-28, AD-5, SNB-5, TV-2 and SF-1 aircraft. In 1962 through 1963, he attended the Command and Staff course at the Naval War College in Newport, R.I. This was followed by assignment as flight test officer for the Bureau of Weapons at the North American Aviation Corps at Columbus, Ohio. During this time, Bill flew a special coast-to-coast photographic mission for the Smithsonian Institute. After obtaining the rank of commander U.S. Navy in 1965, Bill was assigned to the Joint Task Force Two at Sandia Army Base, Albuquerque, N.M., as a reconnaissance test designer, where he received a Joint Commendation Medal. From 1968 to 1976, Bill was assigned to the Naval Safety Center in Norfolk, where he served as officer in charge of life support equipment including ejection systems. He retired from Naval service after 30 years in 1976 having flown 4868 hours with 416 carrier landings. Bill married Margaret Brady of Glen Ridge, N.J., in 1950 but sadly lost her to multiple sclerosis in 1974. Bill is survived by their two children, William Lassen Jr. of Hertford, N.C., and Beth Hancock of Virginia Beach. Bill married Viola F. Alexander of Virginia Beach in 1993 and together they relocated to Lanexa, Va., and enjoyed retirement boating on Diascunt Creek and playing tennis, even competing together in the Golden Olympics. They enjoyed many summer vacations in Emerald Isle, N.C., with their combined families. Bill is survived by his wife, Vi, as well as stepchildren, Kathleen Oliver of Cumberland, Va., Caroline King of Baton Rouge, La., Kristine Jarquin of Nashville, Tenn., Robert Alexander of Yorktown, Va., Cherie Witt of Crozet, Va., and Kim Alexander of Phelan, Calif. He is also survived by 18 grandchildren. Bill was a member of the American Society of Safety Engineers and the Tidewater MG "T" classic sports car club. Services will be performed at Nelsen Funeral Home in Williamsburg today at 10 a.m. Burial will be in Arlington National Cemetery Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2009, at 1 p.m. Bill, wishing you fair skies and calm winds on your next mission. We'll save a cigar for you! Online condolences may be registered at www.nelsencares.com.