Eugene Assaf

1930 - 2021

ASSAF, Eugene F.

Eugene F. Assaf passed away on Monday, April 5th after a short illness at the age of 91. Gene always had an encouraging word for you and your family. The consummate people-person, he was an early riser who knew the value of a loyal family, a hard day's work, and of being kind to others. Gene was born in 1930, and was raised and educated in Old Forge and Scranton, Pennsylvania. He attended Old Forge High School, where he played football for the legendary Coach Ghigiarelli. After graduation he served in the United States Army as a member of the Military Police who served in the Korean War. A longtime parishioner of St. Joseph's Melkite Catholic Church in West Scranton, he also served as the first President of the West Scranton Lions Club. After owning his own insurance agency, he later became owner of Holiday Pancake House, which had 5 locations in the Scranton and Wilkes-Barre area. After over 20 years in the restaurant business, he retired and served the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania under Governor Robert Casey, directing fleet services. He retired to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and then moved to Atlanta, Georgia in 2006 to be closer to his family. Gene lived a very active life in retirement, golfing, reading and watching his grandchildren play sports. He was the son of Frank and Adele (Ash) Assaf; he is survived by his wife of 60 years, Thalia Joseph Assaf. Devoted parents, they always emphasized education and enjoyed their boys' sporting events. Gene has been a devoted caregiver for her for the past 23 years as she suffers from advanced dementia. He leaves two sons, Gene Assaf, a lawyer in New York City (daughter-in-law, Dr. Elizabeth McHenry, and grandchildren Electa McHenry-Assaf and Quinn McHenry-Assaf), and Fred Assaf, an educator in Atlanta (and daughter-in-law Dr. Martha Downer-Assaf, and grandsons Jack, Hank, Mick, Sam and Tommy Assaf). Services will be private due to Covid. A lifelong reader, he believed education was the greatest gift we could give our children. Memorial contributions may be made in his memory to either Pace Academy https://www.paceacademy.org/support/make-a-gift or Scranton Prep www.ScrantonPrep.org/give.