Rev Richard Eugene Grasso

1937 - 2017

Rev Richard Eugene Grasso, 80, passed away July 17, 2017. Father Grasso was born in Daytona Beach, Florida the last of thirteen children born to Gaetano and Anna Grasso. Growing up in Daytona Beach he graduated from St. Paul's Elementary School and 1955 class of Seabreese High School with the honors of Salutatorian. His college career included a B.A. degree in Classical Languages with a minor in philosophy from Seton Hall University, and an S.T.B. (M. Div) in Theology from Catholic University. On May 25, 1963, he was ordained a priest of the Paterson Diocese in New Jersey, after studies at Immaculate Conception Seminary in North New Jersey. Following ordination he was chosen to serve the newly established Spanish Apostolate, an outreach to the Hispanic community. He served as Administrator of Our Lady, Queen of the Holy Rosary Church in Dover, NJ while he also was pastoral vicar in the newly established Church of St. Clement in Rockaway Township, NJ. In 1965, Father was given a further assignment to teach at Morris Catholic High School in Denville, NJ. In 1972 for health reasons he returned to Daytona Beach and taught at Seabreese High School while helping out at the local parishes when needed. In 1977, he returned to his diocese to continue teaching at Morris Catholic, during which time he served as chaplain to the Franciscan Sisters of St. Elizabeth in Parsippany, NJ. His health not improving, he returned to Daytona Beach in 1981 and taught at Mainland High School until 1985 and then at Seabreese High School until he retired from teaching in 1992. From 1993 to 1996 he was involved in prison ministry. In 2007, the Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus of Bishop Thomas Grady Assembly 2901, Ormond Beach FL, invited Father to be their Faithful Friar, a post he holds to this day. Father has been associated with Prince of Peace Catholic Church since 1997 and has seen three generations grow there. He considers that church his home from which he has been edified greatly by the faith of the community and the presence of Christ manifest in the parishioners. Father Grasso is survived by his sister, Annette Van Tronk; brother, Leonard Grasso; dear friends, James and Xiuli Gunn and their children Cynthia and Jameslee and several nieces; nephews and dear friends. He was predeceased by 10 siblings. Visitation will be held Monday, July 24, 2017 from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. at Prince of Peace Catholic Church, Ormond Beach with a wake service at 7 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 1:00 pm Tuesday July 25, 2017. Burial will be private. Arrangements are under the care and direction of Volusia Memorial Funeral Home Ormond Beach. Condolences may be shared with the family at www.volusiamemorialfunerals.com. In Lieu of flowers donations may be made in his memory to Prince of Peace Catholic Church.