Gasper Grillo, age 91 of Walpole, MA, passed away peacefully on Friday, November 29, 2019. Born on April 30, 1928 in Boston, MA. he was the son of the late Giuseppe & Maria (Federico) Grillo who were both Sicilian immigrants. Gasper grew up in the West End of Boston and graduated from the Boston Trade School in 1946 as a Tool & Die Maker. After high school, Gasper worked as an apprentice Tool & Die Maker before enlisting into the United States Army on March 20, 1951. After boot camp, Gasper was stationed in Japan during the Korean War. It was while he was stationed in Japan that he met the love of his life, Tsuyako Tsukada. (“Sue”) They dated secretly for 2 years until his discharge on March 2nd , 1953. He returned back to the United States but had promised Sue he would be back to marry her. Gasper kept his promise spending 2 weeks crossing the Pacific and returning back to Japan where they were married. Upon returning to the United States, they settled back into Boston where he began working at American Stamping Company in Dorchester, MA. as a Tool and Die Maker. In 1964, Gasper and Sue moved to Walpole, Ma where they raised their family. Gasper worked for over 36 years in his trade as a foreman and then as a supervisor at the Foxboro Company for the last 10 years of his career. Six months after he retired at age 62, he decided to take on a new career as a job coach for adults with special needs. He worked at May Institute and then at Lifeworks in Norwood, MA. He loved working with these adults and continued until the age of 89 when he was forced to resign due to his health. He was also a former town moderator for the town of Walpole. He has been a member of the Masons since 1959 in both the Prospect Lodge in Westwood, MA. as well as the Azure Lodge in Walpole. He received his Veteran’s 50th year medal in 2009 from the Masons. He was also a Shriner devoting much of his time fundraising for the Shriners Hospitals for Children. Gasper was a man of many talents, he was a self-taught guitarist and photographer and in his younger years. He was part of a quartet that would sing on a New York radio station. Gasper also made jewelry by polishing and tumbling rocks to make necklaces, rings, and belt buckles.
Beloved husband for 65 years to Sue (Tsukada) Grillo. Loving father of Linda Feeney of Plainville and Sandra Grillo of Danvers. Cherished grandfather of Anthony Feeney and the late Timothy Feeney. Devoted brother of Teresa (Grillo) Burakas and the late Frank Grillo, Ben Grillo, Phillip Grillo, and Mary (Grillo) Peluso.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend calling hours on Saturday, December 7th from 11AM-3PM in the Gillooly Funeral Home, 126 Walpole Street, Norwood, MA.
Graveside services will take place at the Massachusetts National Cemetery on Thursday, December 12 at 11:30am.
In lieu of flowers, remembrances in Gasper’s name can be made to Shriners Hospital for Children at https://www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org.
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