Dr. Eugene Paul Nassar

Dr. Eugene Paul Nassar 1935 - 2017
UTICA - Dr. Eugene Paul Nassar, son of the late Michael and Mintaha (Kassouf) Nassar, has died at the age of 81 in his East Utica home. He is survived by his children Anne, Laura, and Paul, his granddaughters, Miriam, and Samantha, and the dear companion of his late wife, Bedelia Saba Hobaica. He was predeceased by his devoted wife of 43 years, Karen (Nocian), his parents, and his brothers, Fred, and Michael. Surviving is Fred's son, David, Michael's wife, Angela, and their children, Susan, Michael, Sondra, Elizabeth, and families, many dear cousins, especially Tommy and Rose.
Gene was a graduate of Kenyon College, Oxford and Cornell Universities, was a Rhodes Scholar, and a Woodrow Wilson and National Endowment for the Humanities Fellow, author of books on Wallace Stevens, Ezra Pound, and Dante Illustration, three books of essays in literary criticism, many articles and reviews, and editor of several volumes. He was Professor emeritus of English at Utica College, where he taught for 36 years, and founder of the Ethnic Heritage Studies Center. The Eugene Paul Nassar Poetry Prize was created in his name.
The family would like to acknowledge lifelong friends, Donald and Lucy Nojaim, Bob and Mary Cimbalo, Khalil Moses' family, Fran Pape, Leo and Judy Schwenzfeier, Frank Bergmann, Albert Mazloom, and James Pula.
Friends may meet with the family at St. Louis Gonzaga Church at Rutger St. and Conkling Ave., where mass in the Maronite Rite of the Catholic Church will be celebrated on Monday at 1:00 with Chorbishop John D. Faris officiating, and concelebrated by Rev. Saba Shofany. Burial will be at the family plot at Calvary Cemetery at the convenience of the family.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the Eannace Funeral Home, Inc., 932 South St., corner of Hammond Ave.
Online tributes at www.EannaceFuneralHome.com.