Obituary of Calogero Cosimo LaGrassa

Calogero Cosimo “Carl” LaGrassa of Naples, FL, passed peacefully on December 31, 2016, in his eldest daughter’s home in Glen Ridge, NJ, at the age of 88. Carl spent his early years in Palermo, Italy, and New York City. He met Josephine “Joan” (Galante) LaGrassa, the love of his life, at a dance in Manhattan. They married in 1953 and remained so until her death in 2005. Carl and Joan raised a family in Manhasset, NY, traveled the world, golfed, and retired in Naples. Carl was a veteran of the Korean War, ran a successful interior decorating business in Manhasset, and loved opera. He is survived by his three daughters, Joanne Persing and her husband, Sam, of Glen Ridge, Karen LaGrassa and her partner, Richard Raymond, of Tampa, FL, and Carla Barnett of Northport, NY; his six grandchildren, Lauren (Ciulla) Pusey, Adam Persing, Mallory (Barnett) Burr, Karen (Persing) Chorba, Jillian Barnett, and Melody Ciulla; and his two great-granddaughters, Emma Pusey and Izabella Zukowski. Also surviving are Carl’s many nephews, nieces, cousins, dear friends, and their families. He is predeceased by his wife, Joan; his parents, Salvatore and Rosalia LaGrassa; and his sister, Francis (LaGrassa) Faranna. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Wounded Warrior Project https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org