Irving Luie Fass, 96, died peacefully on December 16, 2025. Known as Luie, he was born on April 22, 1929, in Norfolk, Virginia, and lived a life defined by hard work, dedication to family, and pride in a multigenerational legacy.
Luie was the son of Marcelle Kline Fass and Alfred Luie Fass. His mother, Marcelle, was born in New Orleans, and his father, Alfred, was born in Portsmouth, Virginia. Alfred was the son of Isaac Fass, who immigrated from Germany in 1886.
The Fass family’s story is closely tied to the seafood industry in Hampton Roads. In 1887, Isaac Fass founded Isaac Fass Seafood in Portsmouth, Virginia, selling fresh-caught seafood. The company quickly grew throughout the East Coast. Carrying this entrepreneurial spirit forward, Isaac’s grandsons, Luie and his younger brother Arthur Fass, later founded Fass Brothers, expanding the family business into fishing fleets, processing plants, a drydock, and restaurants. The company was known as innovators which was often attributed to Luie’s creativity. Throughout the years, the brothers shared a lifelong bond, built on family values and shared responsibility. Luie took great pride in the family legacy in the seafood industry.
Luie graduated from Wilbraham Academy in Massachusetts in 1947 and went on to attend the University of Virginia, where he earned a degree in Economics in 1951. While at UVA, he was a member of the Jewish fraternity Phi Epsilon Pi, forming friendships and connections that lasted throughout his life.
After graduating from UVA, Luie joined the Coast Guard. While stationed in Baltimore, he met the love of his life, Nancy Whitehouse, and the two married on September 16, 1953. Together, Nancy and Luie made their home in Hampton Roads, Virginia, where they raised their family and built their lives. In 2004, they moved to Rockville, Maryland, and in 2014, they relocated to Lauderhill, Florida. They were married for 68 years.
After Nancy’s passing in 2021, Luie returned to Virginia and moved to the Warwick Forest retirement community in Newport News, where he spent his later years. Luie used his time to enjoy his passion for painting.
Luie was a proud and loving father to his children: Sally Fass Parker, Amy Fass, Andrew Fass, Thomas Fass, and Jeremy Fass. His greatest joy came from his family, which grew to include 11 grandchildren (Erica Cohen, Steven Parker, Samantha Uslan, Rachel Vita, Adam Uslan, Ben Fass, Anna Stone, Claudia Fass, Emma Fass, Grace Fass, and Issac Fass) and 9 great-grandchildren, all of whom were a constant source of pride and happiness.
The family would like to thank everyone who provided loving care to Dad, including the staff at Warwick Forest, as well as his aides, Avery, Jessika, and the rest of the team.
A graveside service will be held on Sunday, December 21st, at 3:00 p.m. at Peninsula Memorial Park, located at 12750 Warwick Blvd, Newport News, VA 23606. Following the service, the family will receive visitors at 203 Riverside Drive, Newport News, VA. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the UVA Fass Family Scholarship Fund in memory of Luie Fass at P.O. Box 400834, Charlottesville, VA 22904 (https://virginiaathleticsfoundation.com).