Obituary: Austin N. Sasso, 85 of Stratford [UPDATED]

Austin N. Sasso's eulogy was written by his oldest daugher, Nancy Sasso Janis

Good morning. I am Nancy Sasso Janis, Austin’s firstborn. For the first six years of my life, my dad referred to me as his only daughter.” When my beautiful sister Christine was born, I became his “only oldest daughter.” He never missed a chance to make a joke.

Austin Nicholas Sasso was born in Bridgeport, CT, on July 16, 1932, the only son of the late and very Italian Angelo Nicholas Sasso and the Irish Mildred Hayes Sasso. He grew up in the south end of Bridgeport and graduated from Bassick High School, the place where he met his future bride in the high school choir. He served in the U.S. Navy for two years in peacetime and was honorably discharged in 1954.

A plaque in my parent’s home reads: “What I love most about my life ~ is who I share it with. When Austin married my mother, he found his soulmate. He took amazing care of her for 60 years.

My dad retired from AVCO Lycoming, now called Textron, where he worked 34 years as a draftsman. His precise printing was instantly recognizable on anything that appeared in our mailboxes. After his retirement, he worked part time for H&R Block for 10 years as a handyman. Truth be told, he never really retired because he was the most active 85 year old man I have even known.

Throughout his career, Mr. Sasso volunteered more than 45 years of his time with the Boy Scouts of America. He began in Cub Scouts and moved up to Stratford-based Troop 177 when his sons graduated to Boy Scouts. Long after his own boys grew too old for Scouting, Mr. Sasso continued to share his talents with what became Troop 76 of Stratford.

Scouts who have grown into men reacted online to my father’s death. Christopher Lovell wrote: “Austin Sasso changed the lives of many young men.” Another former scout named Paul Aurelia wrote: Mr. Sasso was my cub scout leader when I was a kid. He was a great guy who served as an example of what we should all try to be in our communities.” Jason Carroll from Hampton Virginia wrote this: “I am saddened to hear of the passing of Mr. Sasso. Growing up as a Scout of Troop 177 he made a great impact on my life. I know he is looking down on me now and I hope he is pleased to see that I am carrying on the Scouting traditions that he instilled in me with my boys. Fair Winds and Following Seas Shipmate. We have the watch.”

My father was a devoted Catholic and he attended this beautiful church for almost fifty years. After lending his fine voice to the Our Lady of Grace choir for a number of years, he volunteered many hours of service to help maintain the church and former school on the parish grounds. Upon hearing of his passing, Monsignor Ryan immediately called my mother and remarked that Austin was already up in heaven “and probably painting something.”

In May, an anniversary Mass was celebrated right here in honor of my parents 60th wedding anniversary. After the very personal Mass, I asked my mother and father to pose with the Monsignor for a photo to go with the news article I planned to write. As the three waited while I turned on my camera, my dad turned to Monsignor Ryan and said “Daughters!” I am so grateful to our Lord that in a time when many churches are being consolidated or even closed, my father is able to be buried from this church that he loved.

My dad loved his long-time hometown of Stratford and marched in many parades with his Scouts through its streets. Back in the day, he was a fabulous “Band parent” for the Bunnell HS marching band and always was excited to attend drum corp competitions. He enjoyed books and frequented the Stratford Library at least twice each month to borrow large coffee table books about his many interests. He loved the Muppets, the comedy albums on vinyl of the sixties, and often entertained others with a joke. Always a nature lover, his backyard was never without at least one bird feeder and birdbath.

My dad could fix just about anything. People at work would say “It’s broken? Go ask Austin.” And if he couldn’t fix it, he would come up with another, often ingenious, way to get the job done. In his kindness, he has left me enough rolled newspaper logs to start fires in my woodstove for this heating season and the probably the better part of the next. And no one could pack tons of stuff into a garage so precisely that there was just enough room to fit his car inside.

My dad was an accomplished musician who could sing: he also played guitar, banjo, ukulele and harmonica. He enjoyed all kinds of music and encouraged his children and grandchildren to participate in the arts. He dutifully brought my mom to theatrical productions and concerts in which we appeared.

Can we talk about the Halloween costumes? My parents have been the perennial winners of the annual AARP Halloween costume competition, wearing couples costumes they worked together to make. They have dressed as a Civil War couple, a couple of swells, Mary Poppins and Bert, turn of the century motorists, Renaissance royals and just a few weeks back a couple of hippies from the sixties preaching peace and love. All but this final pair of costumes were recently donated to the costume shop at the Warner Theatre in Torrington and Dad’s Civil War general’s jacket has already made an appearance on the Warner stage in ‘Mary Poppins.’

My father adored his sisters, Professor Ruth M. Sasso and kindergarten teacher Margaret Lagasse and her husband Normand. He was proud to acknowledge the fact that he came from a family of teachers. He was the first to celebrate the accomplishments of his five children and proudly attended academic award events in which we were recognized, five high school graduations, commencements from higher education, weddings and countless birthday parties. He loved my brothers David, Jeffrey, and Mark and my sister Christine fiercely.

It has been my honor to watch my father and mother be the most wonderful grandparents to their ten grandchildren. How many photos did we find of Grandpa holding them as babies? Too many to count. He delighted in teaching Nicholas how to work with tools, celebrating holidays with Julie and Jenna, and watching Isabelle and Juliette perform on stage.

My father crossed district lines to come to Naugatuck to help me and another single mom to set up our tents for a Cub Scout camping event with my son Adam and he returned to help us take them down. We were two very grateful den leaders. He was so proud of the musical talents of Christian, and Grandpa loved getting to spend time with his namesake Austin and his brothers Stephen and Jay. He was very proud of each and every one of his grandchildren.

When I see an especially beautiful bird, I will be reminded of Austin the nature lover. When I listen to a talented guitar player, I will remember his music. Every Halloween I will picture him in one of his many costumes now being enjoyed by others. And I will smile.

On behalf of my entire family, I would like to thank each and every one of you for coming today and to the wake yesterday. It means more to us than we could ever express.

Original Post

Bridgeport, CT - Austin Nicholas Sasso, age 85, of Stratford, CT, passed away peacefully, after a brief, unexpected illness in the early morning hours of November 18, 2017. He was the beloved husband of Marie J. (Norkawich) Sasso for sixty years.

“What I love most about my life ~ is who I share it with." - a plaque in Mr. Sasso’s home

Mr. Sasso was born in Bridgeport, CT, on July 16, 1932, the only son of the late A. Nicholas and Mildred Sasso. He grew up in the south end of Bridgeport and graduated from Bassick High School, the place where he met his future bride in the high school choir. He served in the U.S. Navy for two years in peacetime and was honorably discharged in 1954.

He retired from AVCO (now Textron) where he worked 34 years as a draftsman. After his retirement, he worked part time for H&R Block for 10 years as a handyman.

Throughout his career, Mr. Sasso volunteered more than 45 years of his time with the Boy Scouts of America. He began in Cub Scouts and moved up to Stratford-based Troop 177 when his sons graduated to Boy Scouts. Long after his own boys grew too old for Scouting, Mr. Sasso continued to share his talents with what became Troop 276 of Stratford.

One former Boy Scout, Christopher Lovell posted this about Mr. Sasso’s many years of service: “Austin Sasso changed the lives of many young men. He will be with his buddy Bill Janega once again. God bless you, Mr. Sasso.”

He also volunteered many hours of service to Our Lady of Grace Roman Catholic Church, which he faithfully attended for almost 50 years. Always a man of strong faith, he helped to maintain the church and former school on the parish grounds. Upon hearing of Mr. Sasso’s passing, the pastor of OLG Monsignor Martin P. Ryan remarked that he was already up in heaven “and probably painting something.” Click here to read about the anniversary Mass that was celebrated at Our Lady of Grace in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Sasso’s 60th wedding anniversary in May.

Mr. Sasso loved his long-time hometown of Stratford and marched in many parades with his Scouts through its streets. He enjoyed books and frequented the Stratford Library at least twice each month for large coffee table books about his many interests. He loved the Muppets, the comedy albums on vinyl of the sixties, and often entertained others with a silly joke. Always a nature lover, his backyard was never without at least one bird feeder and birdbath. He had a reputation as someone who could fix just about any object that was broken and often executed ingenious repairs for coworkers, family and friends.

Mr. Sasso was an accomplished musician who played guitar, banjo, ukulele and harmonica. He enjoyed all kinds of music and encouraged his children and grandchildren to participate in the arts.

He predeceased his sisters, Professor Ruth M. Sasso, of Naugatuck, and Margaret Lagasse and husband Normand, of Arizona.

He leaves to cherish his memory his five children. They include Patch.com contributor Nancy Sasso Janis, and her former husband John Henry of Naugatuck, David Sasso, and wife Marcy of New Jersey, Jeffrey Sasso, and wife Patricia McCay of Killingworth, Mark Sasso, and wife Kim, and Christine Reuther, and husband Daniel of North Carolina.

His grandchildren include Nicholas Henry and his partner Kristin Brickel R.N. of Naugatuck, Adam and Christian (CJ) Janis, Julie and Jenna Sasso, Isabelle and Juliette Sasso, and James, Stephen, and Austin Sasso. He was uncle to Timothy Lagasse, Patrick Lagasse, Eileen Lagasse and Maureen Ysewyn. He will always be “Daddy Sasso” to his beloved neighbors Kimberly, Melissa and Joseph Henry, the children of William and the late Gail Henry. He was predeceased by his grandson Jonathan Austin Henry.

The family would like to express their sincere appreciation for the compassionate care that Mr. Sasso received at St. Vincent’s Hospital in his final hours, most especially from his night nurse Michelle and the ICU and Emergency Dept. doctors. Their dedication made his sudden passing almost bearable.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Austin’s passions which included the Boy Scouts of America, particularly your local troop, the American Cancer Society, and the Stratford Library Association.

Calling hours will be Tuesday, November 21, 2017 from 4:00 - 7:00 pm at Adzima Funeral Home, 50 Paradise Green Place, Stratford, CT. Funeral Mass will be celebrate on Wednesday, November 22, 2017 at 11:00 am at Our Lady of Grace Church on Second Hill Lane in Stratford. Friends are encouraged to meet directly at the church. Burial to follow at St. Lawrence Cemetery in West Haven.

Obituary in the CT Post