Allan R. Grasso

Allan Ralph Grasso, age 73, of Hammonton passed away peacefully Sunday October 10, 2021.

Allan was born and raised in Hammonton, and later moved to Michigan, where he worked as a counselor to Wayne County Community College’s foreign student body and was later the Assistant to the Director of the Detroit Opera House. Allan graduated from Hammonton High School in 1966 and later from Atlantic County Community College.

He is predeceased by his parents Albert and Martha (nee De Stefano) Grasso. Allan is survived by his brothers Albert in Hammonton and Gary (Barbara) in Virginia, as well as and aunt in Elm, numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews here in Hammonton and in Virginia.

All those who knew Allan loved to hear him play the piano and sing. There were many cheerful Sundays growing up when extended family and friends would gather around the piano after enjoying one of his mother’s famous large Sunday dinners. Allan, a self-taught piano virtuoso who played by ear, amazed all who heard him play. He also enjoyed decorating the inside and outside of the family home on Second Street each Christmas in the 1960’s and early 1970’s, making it a truly Griswold Christmas each year. He would enlist the aid of his brother Gary in these hjinx, and they would traipse around the woods of South Jersey in search of greens and holly, a chore they both loved to do. (Or at least that’s what Allan said!) His mother secretly loved the decorations, but maintained her usual exasperated persona as we spent days getting the house into the Holiday Spirit. All those who remember him from high school, knew that he loved to perform in school plays. His highlight was his 1966 senior year starring performance in “ Bye, Bye, Birdie” and then singing “ It Was a Very Good Year” at his graduation.

Allan moved to Michigan and lived there from 1972 to 2006. In 2007 he returned to Hammonton to care for his mother during her last two years, and he remained in town for the rest of his life. His brothers were always grateful that he was able to provide constant care and comfort for Mom during that time. Finally, we would like to thank Don and Karen Ogle for providing care and support for Allan in recent years, and especially in what unexpectedly turned out to be his last few months.

Family and friends are invited to attend his visitation on Thursday October 27, 2022 from 10:00 – 11:00 am with a celebration of life service starting at 11:00 am at the Marinella Funeral Home 102 N. Third Street Hammonton, NJ. Burial will be in Oak Grove Cemetery 500 N. White Horse Pike Hammonton, NJ.