Elmo Alfred Sassorossi, 99, passed away peacefully on Friday, December 20, 2024, at Gazebo Senior Living in South Burlington, Vt.
Elmo was born on January 26, 1925, to Louis and Josephine (Columbo) Sassorossi in Barre, which became his geographical anchor throughout his life.
He spoke only Italian when growing up in his North Barre home, learning English when he went to grade school. After graduating from Spaulding High School in 1942, Elmo entered Harvard College, where his studies were interrupted when he enlisted in the U.S. Army. Deployed to France as an infantryman, he participated in the Battle of the Bulge. When the war ended, Elmo returned to Harvard, where he dated Norma Troup, who was studying nursing at Simmons College.
Norma and Elmo were married on April 9, 1949, a date — 4/9/49 — that Elmo often reminded his family made it easy to remember anniversaries. Returning to Barre, Elmo joined his father in operating the Colonial Granite Company for many years. Elmo and Norma started a family in 1951 with the birth of Kenn, followed by a second son, Jeff, two years later.
Following the sale of the business, Elmo began his long career in state government with the Department of Education. When the Medicaid program was created in 1965, Elmo was appointed as Vermont’s first Medicaid director, a position he would retire from after serving for more than 20 years.
Elmo and Norma enjoyed an active social life, much centering around golfing with friends at the Country Club of Barre. Elmo, a founding member of the Barre Kiwanis Club, was active in the organization for 75 years. He was also a member of the Mutuo Soccorso Society, the Masonic lodge and the American Legion.
Elmo was able to explore his love of woodworking during retirement. He combined those skills with Norma’s prowess with a paintbrush to create dollhouses, many intricate toys and other treasures for his family. Elmo also teamed with Norma at Christmas to produce delicious and decorative platters of Christmas confections, pasta frollas, ossi dei morti cookies, and a parade of pies. Retirement also presented an opportunity for the couple to travel. They visited Italy, Australia and New Zealand, eager to experience the beauty of other countries.
Norma and Elmo remained at their Abbott Avenue home in Barre until 2016, when they moved to the Gazebo Apartments assisted living facility in South Burlington. After years of his love and tender care for Norma, she passed away in 2019.
Elmo is survived by two children, four grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. The family includes Kenn Sassorossi and his wife, Judy (Bickford) Sassorossi; their daughter Kathryn (Sassorossi) Aisenberg, her husband, Jon Aisenberg, and their children, Lucia and Dario; their daughter Martha Sassorossi, her husband, Rafael Ferrer, and their daughters, Vera Adelina and Serafina Simone; and Jeff Sassorossi and his wife, Beverly (Darling) Sassorossi; their son, William Sassorossi, his wife, Magaret (Newton) Sassorossi, and their children, Eleanor and Samuel; and their daughter, Kristine (Sassorossi) Guthrie, her husband, Eric Guthrie, and their children, Theodore and Vivienne. Elmo is also survived by his niece, Cindy Dye Kearley; her husband, Steven Kearley; and their son, Kevin. Elmo’s older brother, Dario, was killed in action in France during World War II.
The family deeply appreciates the support and care provided by the staff of Gazebo Senior Living and the volunteers and staff of University of Vermont Home Health & Hospice. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Barre Kiwanis Club, PO Box 724, Barre, VT 05641.
Interment will take place at the convenience of the family. There are no calling hours. Arrangements are by Hooker Whitcomb Funeral & Cremation Services, 7 Academy Street, Barre. For a memorial guestbook, please visit hookerwhitcomb.com.
This article appears in The Reading Issue 2024.