Deacon Michael A. Ascolese

Deacon Michael A. Ascolese passed away peacefully on March 2, 2026, in Cincinnati Ohio. Mike was born in Boston, Massachusetts on December 10, 1924. He spent his childhood working with his father and brother in the grocery store business in Boston’s North End, attending public schools and successfully completing his freshman year at Tuft’s University before enlisting in the Army in 1942. He served as a medical technician at the O’Reilly General Army Hospital in Springfield Missouri where he met the love of his life Lt. Jean C Steiff from Forest City, Iowa, an anesthetist with the US Army Nursing Corps. They were married for over 75 years before her passing in June of 2022.

Jean and Mike moved to Louisville, Kentucky shortly after his graduation from Tufts University along with their first child Timmy. Over the next 22 years they would have four more sons and a daughter, Mark, Chris, Rick, Kevin and Jacqueline before being transferred to Cincinnati, Ohio. Mike worked for National Distillers for 37 years initially as a chemist and then as Director in the HR Department.

Mike was ordained a permanent Deacon in the Catholic Church in 1979 and actively ministered at St. Bartholomew, Our Mother of Sorrows parishes and The Tribunal of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati as the Defender of the Bond. He also ministered at Bridgeway Pointe Assisted Living where he lived and was well cared for, for 3 years until his passing.

Throughout his life Mike believed in serving his fellow human beings and giving back to the community. He did this early on by being active not only in the Catholic parishes the family attended, but also as a Scoutmaster with Boy Scout Troops with his sons, being very active in local and state politics, and through his ministering to hundreds during his 47 years as a Deacon. He also worked with medical students at UC College of Medicine for 9 years during his retirement.

Jesus taught us our goal in life should be to love God and to love our neighbor as ourselves……and....Deacon Mike did exactly that.

Mike is survived by his six children, ten grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated on March 10, 2026, at 10 AM preceded by a visitation at 9 AM at St. Bartholomew Catholic Church, 9375 Winton Road, Cincinnati Ohio.

In leu of flowers, you may donate to UCCOM (University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine) IvaDean Scholarship fund in memory of Deacon Mike Ascolese below. Please be sure to note the memorial gift in the tribute information box.

https://foundation.uc.edu/ascolese