Captain Henry Cassani

Untitled CAPTAIN HENRY
L. CASSANI
1930 - 2009

Captain Henry L. "Hank" Cassani, U.S. Navy (Retired), passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his wife and seven children on November 17, 2009 at the age of 79 from complications of diabetes.
Born October 6, 1930 in Braintree, Massachusetts, he was the beloved son of the late Louis and Lena Orlando Cassani of Quincy, MA. He graduated from Quincy High School in 1947. Captain Cassani was the devoted husband to his loving wife of 57 years, Florence Radford Cassani, formerly of Pensacola, FL. He was the treasured father to seven children, Henry L Cassani, JR and his wife, Judith, of Chesapeake, VA; Sharon Cassani Clarke and her husband, Ronald, of Carver MA; Susan Cassani Andrews and her husband, David, of Hanson, MA; Richard L. Cassani of Pensacola, FL; Cynthia Cassani Phillips and her husband, Randall, of Port St. Joe FL; Michael A. Cassani and his wife, Lisa, of Lakeville, MA; and CDR John D. Cassani (USN) and his wife, Vicky, of Lansdale PA. He was the beloved Grampie to 17 grandchildren, and Great Grampie to two great-granddaughters. Captain Cassani also leaves his beloved sister, Jeanne Lewis and her husband, Ted, of Mashpee, MA and Marco Island, FL. He is also survived by a large family of nieces, nephews, and cousins. His many friends, in the Navy and civilian life, will miss him greatly.
Hank Cassani joined the Navy in 1948 and served as a Hospital Corpsman at NAS Squantum in Quincy, MA. He was ordered to Flight Training in 1950 and was commissioned and designated Naval Aviator (# V1939) in 1952. He was an early advocate of Navy Rotary Wing Aviation, earning his helicopter designation in 1952 (# H1077) and serving in the original Helicopter Utility Squadron TWO (HU-2). In later sea tours, he served in Air AntiSubRon Twenty-two (VS-22) and on Air Group 50 (CVSG-50) Staff. He was recognized by both helicopter and fixed-wing carrier anti-submarine communities as an accomplished and decorated Naval Aviator. Captain Cassani was also the first Commanding Officer of Helicopter Combat Support Squadron Three (HC-3).He was also awarded a BS in Engineering and MS in Management from the United States Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA. His Naval career came full circle when he returned home to become the Commanding Officer of NAS South Weymouth in 1973. Captain Cassani retired from there in 1976. He and his wife then resided in Port St. Joe, FL until 1995, when they moved to Navarre Beach.
Funeral service will be at 10:00 a.m., Friday, November 20, 2009 St. Ann's Catholic Church, Gulf Breeze, FL, with Father Eugene Pathe officiating.
FAITH CHAPEL FUNERAL HOME SOUTH, 100 Beverly Pkwy, is in charge of arrangements.
The family will receive friends at Faith Chapel South on Thursday, November 19 from 6 to 8 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations in his honor be made to Covenant Hospice-Homeless Veteran's Program; 5041 North 12th Street, Pensacola, FL 32504.
You may express your condolences and memories online at www.fcfhs.com