OBITUARY: James ‘Jim’ Drexel Lepper, Longtime Brevard Educator and Coach, Dies at 84

From the Classroom to the Football Field, Jim Lepper Inspired Generations

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – James “Jim” Drexel Lepper, beloved father, grandfather, and educator, passed away peacefully at his home in Palm Bay, Florida, on November 6, 2025, after a long illness. He was 84 years old.

Born on March 29, 1941, in Melbourne, Florida, Jim was a lifelong resident of Brevard County and a proud graduate of Melbourne High School, Class of 1959. A standout athlete, he lettered in all four varsity sports, was voted Most Athletic, and was inducted into Mel-Hi’s Baseball Hall of Fame.

Jim set track records that stood for more than two decades and earned MVP honors in both football and basketball.

After high school, Jim was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals and received a football and baseball scholarship to the University of Florida, where he was voted All-SEC Freshman Quarterback before a knee injury ended his athletic career. He went on to graduate from UF in 1964—a lifelong Gator through and through.

Jim devoted more than 50 years to teaching American History in Brevard County.

His career included teaching at Southwest Junior High, Melbourne High School, Florida Air Academy, and Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy. He also served as a football coach at Melbourne Central Catholic, Florida Air Academy, and Melbourne High, where his passion for sports and mentorship left a lasting legacy on generations of students and athletes.

A man of great intellect and curiosity, Jim found joy in conversations about history, literature, and sports.

He loved poetry—especially the works of Carl Sandburg, Robert Frost, and Shakespeare—and enjoyed lively trivia matches and deep discussions with family and friends. His family fondly remembers his “high fives” with his twin great-granddaughters, Maeve and Finley; Gator talks with his son-in-law Doug; and history debates with his grandson Clay.

Jim is survived by his daughter, Robin Slentz (Doug); three grandchildren, James Slentz (Jamie), Sarah DeJong (Patric), and Clayton Slentz (Mikayla); and seven great-grandchildren—Grace, Brennan, Nolan, Nora, Cade, Maeve, and Finley. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife and high school sweetheart, Jacqueline, and his daughter, Kelly.

Jim will be remembered for his love of family, his sharp mind, his passion for teaching, and his fondness for the music of Kristofferson, Willie Nelson, and Johnny Cash.

A Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, November 14, at 9 a.m. at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Melbourne, followed by interment at St. Joseph’s Cemetery on Miller Street in Palm Bay.

A “Celebration of Life” barbecue will follow on Sunday, November 16, at 1 p.m. at Kingery Pavilion, 3575 Hield Road, West Melbourne. All are welcome to attend.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Melbourne Central Catholic High School in Jim’s memory.

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