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- Toledo Blade, June 8, 2012
Joseph M. Bassett
The co-owner of two Bassett's Health Food stores in Toledo who was a pioneer in promoting herbs and dietary supplements to improve health, Joseph M. Bassett died Wednesday in his Sylvania Township home. He was 79.
A daughter, Charmaine Bassett Trimm, said he died of complications of a bladder and kidney infection.
Mr. Bassett and his wife, Patricia, started Bassett's Health Foods in 1969 at Cricket West Shopping Center. The business, which offered vitamins and supplements, bought out a competitor a year later in the nearby Westgate Shopping Center.
The Bassetts relocated the store to Westgate, remaining there for nearly 25 years. They eventually opened a second store on Heatherdowns Boulevard near Key Street and moved the Westgate location north on Secor Road.
According to Mrs. Trimm, the idea for the health-food store was her mother's, who had health problems as a young child. However, Mr. Bassett, who was selling real estate, became a student of the industry and grew to become an expert.
Mrs. Bassett said customers often went to her husband for advice on supplements and vitamins because of his extensive knowledge. She said he was always willing to help customers understand the importance of dietary supplements in promoting health.
"That is what he was all about," she said.
His family said he created his own formulas with herbs and vitamins and sold and marketed the products under his name.
Mr. Bassett was elected to several terms as president of the National Nutritional Foods Association, an industry trade group that represents manufacturers, marketers, and retailers.
"My dad studied under all the great experts who started the real push into nutrition. He then started teaching seminars because he had gotten so knowledgeable," daughter Sabrina Early said.
Mr. Bassett was instrumental in getting Congress to pass the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act in 1994.
The law said dietary supplements, vitamins, minerals, and herbs must be regulated as a food, not prescribed like medications.
Mr. Bassett was trained and licensed in nutritional and massage therapies, including Touch for Health.
He attended DeVilbiss High School, where he was a standout wrestler. He attended Ohio State University on a scholarship for the sport, but left school in 1952 when he was drafted into the Army.
Mr. Bassett was a tank gunner in the Korean War. He returned to Toledo and continued his education at the University of Toledo, where he joined the wrestling team.
While attending UT, Mr. Bassett was an instructor at the Arthur Murray Dance Studio in downtown Toledo. There he met another instructor, the former Patricia Martin, whom he married Sept. 22, 1958, shortly after Mr. Bassett graduated with a business degree from UT. "He always said he danced his way into my heart," Mrs. Bassett said.
After they were married, the couple moved to Los Angeles in search of employment. Mr. Bassett worked for two years as juvenile probation officer. They returned to Toledo and Mr. Bassett eventually began a computer programming school in Memphis.
Surviving are his wife, Patricia; son, Joseph, Jr.; daughters, Sabrina Early and Charmaine Bassett Trimm; brother, James; seven grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.
Visitation is to be Sunday from 2 to 9 p.m. at Walker Funeral Home, 5155 W. Sylvania Ave., with services at 7 p.m. Sunday. The family suggests tributes to the Joseph M. Bassett Memorial Fund at http://www.nemenhahpress.com.
Toledo Blade, June 9, 2012
Joseph M. Bassett (Picture included)
BASSETT Joseph M. Joseph M. Bassett, age 79, a well known and respected area businessman died June 6, 2012, in his Sylvania home surrounded by his loving family. He was born to Joseph and Rose Bassett in Toledo, OH. He was an Army veteran who served honorably during the Korean War. Joe along with his wife Pat, owned and operated Bassett's Health Food Stores from 1969 to the present. Joe was trained and certified in several fields including Polarity, Iridology, Massage Therapy, Reiki, Applied Kinesiology, Nemenhah Medicine Man, and Nutritional Education. Joe was also a Certified Instructor in Touch for Health, Iridology and Massage Therapy. He became a Naturopathic Medical Doctor (NMD), and a Doctor of Machanotherapy (DM). He was a founding member of the National Institute of Nutritional Education, President of the Mid American Health Assoc., Chairman of Citizens for Health and a National Health Freedom Board Member. Joe was a talk show host on WSPD for many years with his program "Nutritionally Speaking." He also published numerous articles and taught many classes and seminars. Joseph Bassett was a pioneer, championing the rights for health freedoms. One of his biggest accomplishments was to co-author DSHEA with Senators Hatch and Harkin in 1994. This bill has continued to protect health freedom at the highest level. Without this bill we would all be unable to purchase vitamins, mineral, supplements, herbs, etc without a prescription. Without the passage of this bill we would have fallen under the auspices of Codex and our country would be a different place. Joe attended Devilbiss High School, The Ohio State University and the University of Toledo. He was an outstanding wrestler in high school and college and an accomplished ballroom dancer. Joe enjoyed playing tennis, badminton, bridge, golf and attending the opera. He was a great friend and competitor to all who knew him. He is survived by his loving wife of 54 years, Patricia Bassett (Martin); children, Joseph, Jr., Charmaine Bassett Trimm (Mark) and Sabrina Early (Jeff); brother, James Bassett; seven grandchildren; 3 great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother Gerald Bassett. Visitation will be held Sunday, June 10, 2012, from 2:00 to 9:00 p.m. with the service at 7 p.m. at Walker Funeral Home, 5155 W. Sylvania Ave., Toledo, OH. 419-841-2422. Private burial is at Ottawa Hills Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to http://www.nemenhahpress.com click on Joseph M. Bassett Memorial Fund. Or mail checks to NAS 18310 E. 752 Rd., Humansville, MO 65674 417.955.0430
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Bassett Family Association Database
Abt 1933 - 2012 (~ 79 years)