Robert M. Sassone

Robert M. 'Bob' Sassone

OLEAN - Robert M. "Bob" Sassone, 91, a longtime Olean resident and St. Bonaventure University graduate, died Sunday (Feb. 5, 2023) at his home, surrounded by family.

A native of Brooklyn, Bob was the son of Savino and Katherine Hammond Sassone.

He graduated from Abraham Lincoln High School in 1949 and was recruited to play basketball for St. Bonaventure. His association with the University would last for almost 40 years as a student-athlete and coach. His work as a teacher, counselor and coach in the Franklinville and Olean school systems positively impacted thousands of students over a 35-year career.

Bob stood out on the basketball court while in high school and was named to the Metropolitan All-City team in New York, playing some of the best competition in the country. He led his high school team at Abraham Lincoln to the City Championship in 1949.

Once at St. Bonaventure, he helped lead the Bonnies to the 1951 National Invitation Tournament, the first NIT appearance ever for the school. He averaged 11.2 points per game during his college career and finished with 829 career points, also leading the team in free throws with a .736 percentage at the line.

He was the team's leading scorer in 1951-52 (12.5 points per game) and again in 1952-53 (13.5 points per game). Bob was named All-NIT in 1952 and was voted sophomore All-American by the Sporting News in 1951. He also earned honorable mention All-America honors again in 1952.

After graduating in 1953, Bob was selected in the third round of the NBA Draft by the Philadelphia Warriors. He was drafted into the U.S. Army and served from September 1953 to September 1955. Bob passed on playing professionally and instead began his career as an educator and raised a family.

Bob traveled to Yugoslavia with the St. Bonaventure basketball team in 1978 and developed friendships with numerous international coaches and scouts. He was invited back to the region and returned numerous times to teach at clinics in Yugoslavia and Italy from 1978 to 1990.

Sassone was inducted into the St. Bonaventure Athletic Hall of Fame in 1990. In all, he represented St. Bonaventure in 13 postseason tournaments as a player and a coach. He was an integral part of the Bonnies' Final Four team in 1970 as well as the 1977 NIT Championship team as an assistant coach.

He enjoyed traveling over the course of his life and loved playing golf in addition to playing and coaching basketball. He was a member of the former Transfiguration Church and was a life member of the Pulaski Club.

Bob is survived by his loving wife of 67 years, Irene Luty Sassone; four children, Michael Sassone of Bristow, Va., Anne (Francis) Tommasino of Newport News, Va., Laurie (Michael) Kalo of Seminole, Fla. and John Sassone of Treasure Island, Fla.; eight grandchildren, Robert Sassone, Jerome (Stephanie) Kalo, Mark Kalo, Greg (Kristy) Sassone, Francis Tommasino, Christine Tommasino, Nicholas Kalo and Andrew Sassone; five great-grandchildren, Natalie and Madison Kalo, Angelica Sassone, and Luke and Vincent Sassone; one brother, Michael Sassone of Florida; one sister, Patricia Miles of Florida; and several nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by a son, Robert Sassone in 2011; a brother, Edward Sassone; and a sister, Joyce Weistmiller.

The family acknowledges Bob's longtime friend Dr. John Neeson, and caring neighbors Dick and Marianne Gabryszak, and Steve and Eileen Lanza and Josie.

The family will welcome friends from noon until 1 p.m. Wednesday (Feb. 8, 2023) at the St. Bonaventure University Chapel. The Allegany American Legion Ritual Team will provide military honors at 1 p.m. in the church, followed immediately by a Mass of Christian Burial, with Fr. Peter Schneible, OFM, as the principal celebrant. Private burial services will be held at St. Bonaventure Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the St Bonaventure University Bonnies Athletic Fund, P.O. Box 2519, 3261 West State Road, St. Bonaventure, NY 14778.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Casey, Halwig & Hartle Funeral Home, Olean.

Online condolences may be expressed at oleanfuneralhome.com.