James (Jim) Fels was born in Brooklyn, NY on September 24, 1942 to
parents Vincent and Nellie Di Napoli. His father was killed in the war
and when Jim was 15 years old his mother married Curt Fels. Curt adopted
Jim and changed his name to James Fels. After high school he attended
the State University at Farmingdale, NY for two years. He worked as a
Quality Control Inspector in Huntington, NY until 1979 when he relocated
his family to Palm Bay, FL after accepting a job with Hughes Aircraft
Space and Communications Division as a Source Engineer. Hughes Space and
Communications was bought out by Boeing from which he retired in 2006.

Jim is survived by his loving wife of 43 years Sylvia, his son
James Raymond Fels and his finance Miranda Ridgeway, his daughter Dawn
Mitchell and her husband Darren, mother-in-law Catalina Puente,
sister-in-law Yvonne Puente, and 2 nieces, Yvette Hermann (Eric), and
Tara McCarthy. His son Curt preceded him in death last year.

At an early age Jim realized he had a knack for playing the guitar
and taking pictures. By age 10 he could play the guitar along with the
radio and by age 15 had a photography studio in his basement. Later on
Jim started playing the keyboard to give himself a challenge. Jim was
very competitive in sports and played softball, bowled, and played ping
pong. He excelled in all of these when he was younger and as he aged
realized these games were actually fun even if he didn't win.

Upon moving to Palm Bay, FL Jim realized there was no Cub Scout or
Boy Scout troop for his sons so he went about starting a Pack in Palm
Bay. As his children grew and became interested in soccer, he and a few
friends started the Palm Bay Youth Soccer League. Jim was also involved
in the Palm Bay Rotary Club, receiving Rotarian of the Year once, the
Sertoma Club, the Happy Lions Club, and the Greater Palm Bay Senior
Center. But most of all Jim loved spending time with his family. There
wasn't anything he wouldn't do for his family. In fact, he would put his
children's soccer games before work because seeing his children play was
much more important than working.

A Celebration of Life Memorial will be held Saturday, September 27, 2014
at 11 am at the Greater Palm Bay Senior Center, 1275 Culver Drive NE,
Palm Bay, FL 32907.