Alfred R. Grassano

Alfred “Al” Rudolph Grassano, of Bloomfield, NJ, entered into eternal life, with his family by his side, on Sunday August 27, 2023.  Al, the son of Rose and Rocco Grassano was born May 10, 1925, in Newark NJ.  He was a devoted husband for 73 years to his late wife, Dolores “Del” Grassano.

Al lived a great life before he passed at the age of 98 years old.  Al was the NICEST person.  His religion was “Kindness”. His generosity overflowed to his neighborhood where he resided since 1959.  Friends and family lovingly call him Saint Al. 

He was a decorated WWII Air Force Flight Engineer.  He formed friendships during his time in the service that lasted his whole life.  He was a Newark City Champion Track Star in his youth. 

Alfred lived his life with CALM and GRACE, spending extended hours surrounded by nature on the golf course with his best buddies.   Al was a member of the hole-in-one club, he could be found on the course well into his 90’s.

Al was a master diamond setter, he sat at his jeweler’s bench for 78 years.  He created heirloom pieces for many friends and family.  When Tiffany & Co. had a problem setting a diamond, they sought out Al’s expertise.

A life-long love of poetry was instilled in him by his older brother Achilles, who would teach him to memorize and recite poems.  His favorite poet was Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.  Al could recite these poems his whole life. 

Alfred is survived by his daughters Lynn Messina and her husband Sebastian, and Gail Grassano-Ball and her husband James Ball. He was a loving grandfather to Danielle Messina and her husband Jonathan Irizarry, Alycia Messina and her fiancé Michael Alcaro and Adoran Ball.  He is the uncle of John Grassano, Alan Grassano and his godson N. Richard Grassano.

He is pre-deceased by his brothers Achilles Grassano and Nicholas Grassano.

We are blessed and grateful to have had him in our lives for so long.

Prayer services will be held on Friday, September 1st 2023 at 11:00 o’clock in the morning in the Gate of Heaven Chapel  Mausoleum, 225 Ridgedale Avenue, East Hanover, N.J. 07936. (Please arrive at the mausoleum by 10:45 a.m.)

In that the chapel does not allow flowers in the mausoleum the family has requested to please consider a donation in Alfred’s memory to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation ( https://t2t.org/donate/ )

Arrangements are under the care and direction of the Irvine-Cozzarelli Memorial home (973-759-1114), 276 Washington Avenue, Belleville, N.J. 07109.

( www.irvinecozzarelli.com )

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Alfred R. Grassano, please visit our floral store.