Charles “Joe” Vassallo

 

 

Charles “Joe” Vassallo, 87, of Cherry Street, Emporium, died Sunday, November 25, 2012, in Christ the King Manor, DuBois

Born November 22, 1925 in Emporium, he was the son of the late Charles and Rose Gennacaro Vassallo. On September 25, 1952 in Emporium, he married Mary A. Johnson who passed away April 28, 2003. On July 31, 2004 in Brockway he married Jeanne Krauss who survives.

Mr. Vassallo was a veteran of two wars, having served during WWII for 3 years with the Merchant Marines and during the Korean War for 26 months with the US Army.

A lifelong resident of Emporium, he was a 1943 graduate of Emporium High School and a 1948 graduate of Bryant & Stratton Business College in Buffalo. He was employed by Metropolitan Insurance as an agent in Emporium for 34 years.

He was a member of St. Mark Church in Emporium, and the Knights of Columbus and the American Legion both in Emporium. He was also a member and past treasurer of Emporium Country Club, member and past treasurer of Cameron County Vet’s Club for 10 years, was a life member of VFW Post 6221 in Emporium, and was past president of the local chapter of the American Cancer Society. His hobbies included golfing, bowling, and winemaking.

Surviving in addition to his wife, Jeanne, are: two sons, William C. (Julie) Vassallo of Punxsutawney and Charles “Rick” (JoAn) Vassallo of Emporium; three daughters, Mary Jo (Patrick) Fiore of Altoona, Karen (James) Slusarick of Emporium, and Kathy (Edward) Miller of Beaufort, NC; seven grandchildren, one great grandson; two sisters, Caroline Drotos of San Francisco, CA and Clara Sarick of Emporium; and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents and first wife, he was preceded in death by one sister, Virginia MacDonald.

Visitations with video tribute will be held Tuesday, November 27 from 4-8 p.m. in the Coppersmith-Condon Funeral Home, Emporium.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday in St. Mark Church with Fr. Paul Siebert, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in St.Mark Cemetery, Emporium.

A Wake service will be held Tuesday evening in the Funeral Home.

Memorials, if desired, may be made to the Cameron County Cardiac Committee, the Cameron County Memorial Detail or a charity of the donor’s choice.