Obituary of Frank A. Glasso

Frank A. Glasso, a lifelong resident of Rome, passed away peacefully at home on Thursday November 5, 2020, surrounded by his family. He was 98. Surviving besides his beloved wife of 62 years, Margaret, are three daughters and two sons-in-law: Eileen Ginsburg of Reston, VA, Susan Nastro and her husband John of Holbrook, NY, and Carolyn Tirenin and her husband Walter of Rome; six grandchildren: Brendan, Ryan and Collin Ginsburg; Kaitlyn Nastro and Dr. Andrew Nastro, and Gregory Tirenin; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by three sisters: Grace Felardo, Greta Galasso and Angela Cicconi; and a brother, Leonard Galasso. Frank was born in Rome on April 27, 1922, a son of the late Vito and Carmella Summa Galasso who had emigrated from Filiano, Italy. Frank was an alumnus of Rome Free Academy, Class of 1940. He enjoyed a varied career, beginning with a Rome Daily Sentinel delivery route at age 12. After high school he worked in an administrative position at General Cable and was assistant manager of the Beeches from 1958 to 1968. It was through his work broadcasting the news and playing music at WKAL that he met Margaret Burton, his future wife. Frank’s friend Amelia Iselo and Margaret were nurses at Rome Hospital on the evening shift. One day while they were on break, Amelia coaxed Margaret to call Frank at the radio station to request a song. This led to a blind date. Decades later Frank recounted his first impression of the blond, green-eyed Margaret when she answered the door at 103 Parkway: “I was stunned.” They married at St. Peter’s Church in Rome on September 6, 1958. In 1968, Frank began his favorite job as reporter and photographer at the Rome Daily Sentinel. His beats included criminal justice and sports; he received a citation from the Associated Press for his reporting during a major storm. He retired from the Sentinel in 1987 and carried his press card in his wallet for the rest of his life. Frank was a communicant at St. Peter’s Church, and as a young man was an usher at St John the Baptist Church. An avid traveler, Frank enjoyed numerous trips to Italy. His final journey to Italy was in 2009 at age 87. He and his daughter Eileen and grandson Brendan spent three weeks in Rome, Venice, and Florence and visited the Martinelli cousins who still live in the villages of Basilicata where Frank’s parents were born and raised. Frank and Margaret, who shared a love of films, jazz, swing and classical music and the theatre, were long time Syracuse Symphony and Rome Community Theater subscribers. Frank and Margaret loved to jitterbug and enjoyed dancing to big band swing at the Spanish Ballroom at Glen Echo Park in Maryland. Frank was an avid harness racing fan and was a member of the US Harness Writer’s Association. He also loved Syracuse and Colgate football, basketball and hockey. Frank was known and well-loved for his generosity and helpful, outgoing personality. He loved showing hospitality to new and old friends and was a devoted son, brother, uncle and husband. He was an extremely dedicated father who always supported his daughters in their educational, career and intellectual pursuits. He especially loved spending time with his six grandchildren and delighted in photographing them. One of Frank’s greatest joys was growing and gathering vegetables and fruits for family and friends, often driving many hours to give these gifts, even well into his 90’s. The Glasso family thanks Dr. Jennifer Lavesa-Cesana for the excellent and compassionate medical care she gave Frank for the past 11 years. Frank’s family is extremely grateful to the nurses, doctors, aides and social workers of Hospice and Palliative Care of Oneida, Herkimer and Eastern Madison Counties for their professionalism, expertise and empathetic support during Frank’s final days. We also thank the nurses, doctors and support staff of Rome Hospital and St. Joseph’s Hospital for the medical care they gave Frank over the past weeks. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, November 10th at 11:00 a.m. St. Peter’s Church, 200 N. James St., Rome. Interment will take place in St. Peter’s Cemetery. (Family and friends may call at Nunn and Harper Funeral Home, Inc., 418 N. George St., Rome, on Monday, November 9th from 4-7:00 p.m.) In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Frank’s memory to the St. Peter’s Church Memorial Fund. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, a limited number of guests will be allowed to enter the funeral home at one time, everyone must wear a face covering upon entering and proper social distancing protocols must be adhered to once inside.