Theodore Benjamin Yasi

Theodore Benjamin Yasi of Pembroke died July 21. He was 83 years old. A first generation Italian American, Ted was the youngest of four boys born and educated in Lynn Massachusetts to Daniel Yasi and Antoinette Natale. He faced adversity with playfulness and a tremendous love of life. After the early death of his mother, he time spent in foster care, and became a young entrepreneur who sold candy and printed sheet music. Drafted World War 2 into the Army along with best friend, Mac Wulliver, Ted was greatly affected by Mac's death in that war. Serving in WW2 Europe as gun mechanic, electrician and informally as baker of pies, he witnessed the liberation of concentration camp prisoners, and then taught printing in Germany while awaiting his flight back to the states. In 1954, he married Dorothy Mary Ruth of Lynn, and moved her and his father, Daniel Yasi, to Hamilton Massachusetts. Two of his brothers, Frank and Joe, lived nearby. Often gardening alongside his father, Ted filled freezers and Sunday dinner tables with his garden produce, homemade tomato sauce, and rhubarb pie filling. He made amazing pie crusts. He raised livestock and milked goats to feed his growing family, and he was very handy around the house, completing major renovations himself. For many years he owned and operated Preferred Pressroom Products in Peabody with brother Frank, where he designed, built, sold and serviced the P17 printing press. In 1970, the family moved to Fairwood Drive in Pembroke, the business was moved to Whitman, and the brothers began manufacturing hospital beds and hang-glider frames. Dorothy died after a difficult and prolonged battle with breast cancer in 1974, leaving Ted to care for his elderly father and teenage children. After Daniel died in 1980, and the children had moved on, Ted and Frank began closing shop in Whitman. In 1982, Ted was fortunate to meet and marry Gladys Yasi. In addition to working on real estate investments, Ted enjoyed visiting a daughter in Peaks Island Maine, and a memorable late-life adventure to meet Glady's family in Peru. The support and many kindnesses of his wife Gladys, family, friends, neighbors, and the Pembroke Council on Aging in Massachusetts, and Pembroke Hospital staff and home care workers all made it possible for Ted to enjoy prolonged home-life in Pembroke, in spite of advancing Parkinson's disease. Ted leaves behind his wife of 25 years, Gladys Yasi; four children and their spouses, Ted & Fanny Yasi Jr. of Freehold, New Jersey, Katherine Yasi and Jim Fife of Seattle, Jenny Ruth Yasi and Albert Presgraves of Peaks Island, and Susan Yasi of Ann Arbor; six grandchildren, Sophi, Echo, Noah, Daniel, Emily and Alicia; one surviving brother Francis and his wife Gilda Yasi; 12 nieces and nephews. A funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, July 24, 2007 at 11 AM in St. Thecla Church, 145 Washington Street, Rte 53 in North Pembroke. Interment in Pembroke Center Cemetery. Visitation in the Sullivan Funeral Home, 551 Washington Street, Rte 53 in HANOVER on Friday morning from 9:30-10:30 AM.