Patrick Grasso

1925 - 2013
Patrick "Pat" Grasso, a business and civic leader, passed away Friday, October 4th, 2013. A former resident of Katonah, NY, Grasso was born in New York City and was a WW ll Veteran. He joined the U.S. Navy in 1942 and served aboard destroyers in the North Atlantic from 1942-1945. In 1959, Grasso established his own buildings products manufacturing company, Accessory Specialties Inc. (ASI). He began his manufacturing company in a modest garage space and transformed it to the current 180,000 square foot manufacturing plant in Yonkers, NY. Under the guidance of Grasso, ASI became recognized as a leader in the buildings products industry. He was also one of the founders of the Pawling Mountain Club.

Grasso also shared his enthusiasm for success with the community by serving as an active supporter or board member of various business and community organizations. He was instrumental in the creation of the Hunts Point Industry and Commerce Association and served as its first president. He served on the Bronx Frontier Development Corp., New York City Mayor's Committee for "A Clean New York", New York City Department of Social Services Advisory Council, Yonkers Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, the Chamber of Commerce and Rotary in both the Bronx and the City of Yonkers, the Bronx Boys' Club, Yonkers PAL and the National Conference of Christians and Jews.

He was tireless in his quest for the provision of quality services for people with Developmental Disabilities. To this end, he was a founder and long time board member of the Green Meadows School in Vermont and served as the past president of the Board of Directors for Opengate in Somers, NY, the Clear View School in Scarborough, NY and the Association for Mentally Ill Children of Westchester. Grasso has been the recipient of various civic and humanitarian awards for his years of service and philanthropy to his community and to people with Developmental Disabilities.

Grasso is survived by his wife Lia, and was predeceased by his first wife, Mary. He is the father of Linda, Donald and Tommy and step-father of Effie and John. He is also survived by 7 grand-children, and 3 great grandchildren.

Viewing will be at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 10 Mill Road, New Rochelle, NY 10804, at 9:30am Tuesday October 8th, funeral services to follow at 10am. Interment will be at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, 10 West Stevens Ave, Hawthorne, NY 10532.

Donations, in memory of Pat Grasso and in honor of his commitment to provide services to people with Developmental Disabilities, can be made to Opengate, Inc., c/o In Memory of Pat Grasso, 357 Main Street, PO Box 419 Armonk, NY 10504 or to www.opengateinc.org