James "Jimmy" Scott Gaspar, 48, passed away Friday, August 7, 2009 at 9:25 p.m. at his home in Lowell, IN. Jim was born to James and Audrey Gaspar on September 11, 1960. He married Mary "Beth" Robertson in Lansing, IL on September 25, 1982. Jim was a 1979 graduate of Thornton Fractional South High School in Lansing, IL and was a Pipe Fitter for Local 597 in Chicago, IL. He worked for Meccon Industries in Lansing, IL for 31 years. Surviving is his wife, Beth; two sons: Jason Michael (Jennifer Lauren) Gaspar and Nicholas James Gaspar; daughter, Jaymee Lynn Gaspar; and a "daughter" in his heart, Chrissy Nicole Dmitrovich all of Lowell, IN; parents: Jim and Audrey Gaspar of Lansing, IL; sister, Karen (Chris) Helton of Arthur, IL; brother, Chris Gaspar of Lansing, IL; and numerous nieces and nephews.  Jim had many hobbies, but his favorite was reptiles. The breeding and caring for his many snakes was his passion. Jim loved life and lived it to its fullest. He was a loving, caring, and devoted husband, father, son, brother, and uncle and will be missed by all. Memorials can be made to the donor's choice. 

"They're not mean, they just have a great feeding response."  - Jim Gaspar

The longest of the pythons, the retic is a relatively slender snake, but large specimens can attain considerable size and girth.  Coloration generally consists of pale dorsal areas on the back, and smaller white lateral spaces high on the sides, broken by a black reticulated pattern, however, this is an extremely variable species with considerable variation in appearance from different localities..

Arguably one of the most beautiful  snakes, the reticulated python enjoyed its break through in popularity among keepers during the late 1990s. Retics are big, powerful, and intelligent.  They can have a dangerous bite, yet can be incredibly docile.  It’s extraordinary to consider that this huge predator still lurks at the edge of civilization in it's natural geographic habitat..

Retics are genuinely huge snakes.

If you’re obsessed with snakes,

addicted to snakes,

in love with snakes...

it’s hard not to be swept away by the biggest and most beautiful snake of them all.