James T. Slusarski

December 21, 1946 – –March 18, 2026

Teacher, Colleague, Coach, Husband, Favorite Uncle, Friend, Neighbor, Hunter, Fisherman, Volunteer & Lover of History

Jim (“Slu”) joined the teaching staff at Martha Brown Middle School (before it was a middle school) in 1968. He taught Social Studies to 7^th and 8 ^h graders for the Fairport Central School District. Many a student would have groaned when he started class with, “A Day without Social Studies, is a day without sunshine”.

Coach Slu is known by other coaches as “The Father of Fairport Lacrosse”. In 1969, Slu put together the first Fairport lacrosse team, wooden sticks and all. Did the team win any games that year? For sure, they knocked over some players on the other teams and scored every now and then! Today, the Fairport Lacrosse Team is a major challenger throughout NYS. In his early years at Fairport, Jim also coached football and wrestling with his colleague and friend Pete Logan.

When Coach Slu stopped after school/weekend/evening coaching, some friends introduced Jim-BOX to deer hunting, both with a bow and later with a rifle (Slu made a tasty venison chili). He also resumed fishing in the local lakes and not-so-local ocean with these friends, sometimes as first mate and other times as last mate.

Jim retired from teaching in June 2001. His first September in retirement, he and his wife Sue returned to a favorite place—Chatham, Cape Cod—where they had honeymooned in June 1968. Slu (Hobart College) met Sue (Keuka College) on a blind date. They were married almost 60 years.

The couple resided in Fairport NY most of their married life. During NY winters they drove to Florida or Arizona (Tucson was their favorite) where it was warm and sunny. On visits to family and friends and their trips south, Slu would line-up stops at Presidents’ homes where Jim enjoyed the history and Sue enjoyed the home décor of the different times. Although they never visited Alaska or Hawaii, the couple covered most of the other 48 states—either as “drive throughs” to check out a diner– or stops for a few days. The book Road Food and Good Food took them to many interesting out-of-the way places. One of their favorite cities to revisit was New Orleans—food and music, the best. They also traveled twice to Europe, experienced the Caribbean Islands on a cruise, and vacationed with friends in Mexico.

In 2020, just before Covid, Jim was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Slu fought a good fight against the progression of the disease—walking and visiting with friends, eating nutritiously, and flashing his infamous Slu smile. The disease progressed faster the last two years of his life; Slu passed away at age 79 from complications of Parkinson’s in the early morning of March 18 ^h while in hospice at Highland Hospital.

Slu was truly one of the “good guys”. He will be missed, but “Slu Stories” will be remembered, told, and retold for years to come.

A celebration of Jim’s life will be held or Sunday, July 19, 2026 from 3pm-6pm at Egypt Park in Fairport. Please car pool and bring a lawn chair or a blanket. Questions? Randy Garrett 585-402-4560 or See Slusarski 585-802-3883 will provide answers.

Just the Facts Jim was born in Syracuse NY to John Vincent and Anne Slusarski. He had one older brother John Francis. His parents, brother, and his brother’s wife predeceased him. Slu was welcomed with open arms (he was fun!) by Sue’s family. Sue’s parents, a sister-in-law, and a brother-in-law predeceased him as well. The wife of Sue’s brother often referred to Jim and herself as “the out-laws” of the family.

Jims’s education included Saint John the Baptist, Saint Daniels, Christian Brothers Academy, and Manlius Military Academy. He earned his B.A. from Hobart College and went on to SUNY Brockport for his Masters and Administrative Degrees.

Honors Inducted into the Western New York Region Lacrosse Ha// of Fame. Recipient of NIH grant to explore the original diaries of Lewis and Clark from Gonzaga University. Traveled some of the route of the expedition by boat, eating and sleeping as the men had years before. Awarded the Fairport Central School District Crystal Apple for teaching. Inducted into the Fairpod Education Wall of Fame. Inducted into the Red Raider Athletic Hall of Fame.

Hobbies Slu enjoyed most sports: following high school and college lacrosse, viewing the PGA tournaments, playing fantasy football, running sports pools, establishing a wine club, establishing a Vidalia onion club (short-lived), hunting, fishing, collecting political buttons, adding to his $2 bill and coin collections, and rating bourbons. In his retirement, aside from his love for his wife and travel, he spent many hours volunteering at Wild Wings with friends.

Should you wish to honor Slu, please consider planting a /ree, donating to a clarify of your choice or a Parkinson’s disease organization such as the Micñae/ J Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, or locally to Wild Wings.