James Russell DaschNEEDHAM, MA: James R. Dasch, 61, of Needham, Massachusetts, passed away at Dana-Farber Hospital in Boston on Tues. March 28, 2017.James was born on Feb. 17, 1956 in Zanesville, Ohio. He was a 1972 graduate of John Glenn High School, Kenyon College, Case Western Reserve University, and had a postdoctoral fellowship at Stanford University. He grew up in New Concord and was an Eagle Scout.Jim worked as a researcher and manager in the biotechnology field in California and Massachusetts. Ultimately he founded and was president of Abazyme LLC, a firm specializing in immuno-reagents. Jim had a life-long interest in antibody-antigen interactions and was especially interested in harnessing that interaction in the lab. One of the antibodies he created, ID11 became the basis of decades of drug development in both autoimmune disease and cancer research.Jim was an accomplished scientist. He wanted to be remembered as someone who always tried to "do the right thing." He was a soccer enthusiast who played on an adult soccer team up until a few years ago. He also enjoyed traveling, music, watching sports, and playing poker with his friends in Needham. He was also a devoted father who coached many of his sons' soccer teams, and was active in the cub scouts.Jim was preceded in death by his father, Clement E. Dasch. He is survived by his wife, Amy (Lieberman) whom he married on June 6, 1985, and sons Andrew, Samuel, and Peter; his mother Betty Colin Dasch; and brothers Gregory (Marina); Cameron (Jeanne), and Richard (Barbara). His other family includes Alan and Annette Lieberman of Chestnut Hill, MA and Amy's brother Josh (Marcia) and sister, Beth (David Greif). He also leaves many nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and nephews who adored him.James was diagnosed with a very rare cancer in 2004 and went through years of treatment in Boston and abroad. True to his commitment to furthering the study of his disease, he chose to donate his body to Harvard University to further science.His family askes that you consider donating to the Dana-Farber Cancer Research Institute. http://www.myjimmyfundpage.org/give/jimdasch. Guestbook at lawlerfuneralhome.com.