Al was my uncle. Al's wife, my aunt Dolly, had 8 sisters, one of whom, Marie, married my dad. Al was known in the family as the best husband of them all. The rest of the boys who married these girls had to spend the rest of their lives trying to measure up to Al, and none of them ever did. RIP Uncle Al!

My father (Arnold Burkhart) and Al were shipmates on LSM-151 during WWII.  I made a compilation about their ship and sent it to each surviving crewmwber or a member of their immediate family.  Al and I corresponded a few times and I always wanted to talk with him in person but never got the opportunity to do so.  He sounds like a fine person to have known.  My condolences to you all.

Hi Dad,

Me and Mom miss you very very much there are no words to say about how much i love you and how much we miss you and we all always love you and think about you and i wish that you where here and talking to us and joking with us also and i well let you no how everything is so you well no.  I till every one that i well think about you in my heart and i always well think about you all the time for every and always.  May you rest in peace Dad and we hoe to see you some day.  God Bless You for Ever and Always.  We well see you again some day.

Love Barbara.

And Dee

Uncle al was a great uncle,he allways had the time to talk to us kids and have fun with us.as an adult i worked for seveal years with him and my dad-my brother peter and myself,it was a great time he never said a bad word about anyone.i wll miss him but he will be in my Heart with my dad allways.Uncle AL REST IN PEACELOVE YOUR NEPHEW BRIAN....

I REMEMBER WHEN WE WERE YOUNG CHILDREN AND WE VISITED UNCLE AL AND AUNT DOLLY WE WERE ALWAYS WELCOMED.BREAKFAST, LUNCH OR DINNER IT WAS JOIN US.

I am the youngest of Al's four children.  I was born 2 months premature and spent many months in Columbian Presbyterian hospital.  My father visited me every day, without fail, even though he was working long hours as an iron worker -walking open steel.  This was only the beginning of his unwavering  and loving support he gave me my entire life.
My father was a legendary hard worker.  We lived in the housing projects in the Bronx, and didn't have a lot of money.  But, my father wanted to build a better life for his wife, Dee and his children Gail, Dan, Barbara and me .  So while working full time as an iron worker in New York City, he built a home in Carmel, New York with his own two hands.  Carmel was a charming little village about 70 miles north of New York City, and a great place to raise a family.  He did this in his "spare time" during evenings and weekends.  His children watched him set a real life example for creating one's own future through sheer determination, even in the face of difficult circumstances.
Dad taught us many life lessons, mostly with his actions, not merely words.  Once I went to work with him at the Indian Point  nuclear power plant (where he was a steamfitter) and literally dozens of fellow workers came up to me and said my father was the most hardworking, meticulous and cheerful man they have ever had the privilege to work with.  Everyone wanted my dad on their team.   He strived for excellence, and obtained the greatest number of welding certificates and commendations on the entire Indian Point project.  Nuclear power plants are the major leagues for welders and steamfitters, where every weld is x-rayed to assure the highest quality.  Al was indeed the best of the best in his chosen profession.
My father did not follow the crowd. He was a man whose actions and values were always in alignment.  He shared with me some stories of when he worked on one construction jobsite where many others would stop working about 15-20 minutes before the shift was actually over.  He was under much peer pressure to join them.  But, he never did and always gave his best and put in an honest day's effort.  He lived his life doing the right thing, even when no one was looking, never doing the easy thing over the right thing.
I cannot recall anytime my father said anything like- do as I say and not as I do.  He modeled an interesting mix of character and principles for his children to follow.
He was a man full of wonderful dichotomies:
* He was a construction worker and a sailor, but I never heard him curse.
* He worked long hours, but always spent time with his family.
* He was quite strict in his expectations of his children and himself, but he was truly a loving, easy going and optimistic man.
* He never went to college, but he was one of the wisest men I have ever known.
* He was a warrior who fought for his country, worked in the cold and difficult conditions, but never said an unkind word about anyone. This tuff as nails guy would kiss me and tell me he loved me, every single day.
He showed his strength and character to the end, by asking everyone else how they were doing and never complained about his condition.  My brother, two sisters and Al's six grandchildren (David, Nicole, Erica, Alex, Julia and Sarah) try everyday to live up to his sterling example of a principled life filled with integrity and kindness.  We will remember what my dad shared with us, and he will always live in our hearts.  I love you dad, and I thank god for allowing us to be part of your life's journey.  May you rest in peace with your creator.

Charlie Zasso
Dad's Eulogy
May 6th, 2012

My Uncle Al was a kind, thoughtful, loving man.  I always enjoyed my time spent with him.  He will be missed.

Dear Zasso Family,

Al was a good father, a good husband and a good worker.  What more could anyone want.  We will miss you Al.  

Shirley Maguire (Sister-in-Law)

Hi Dad.

Me and mom miss you and we will always be in your heart forever and always think about you and some day we will all see you again me and mom and you will always be in our hearts forever and always think about you. may god bless you Dad. We love you. Me and Mom.

Love Barbara Zasso.

And Dee Zasso.

I have always admired and had great respect for Uncle Al.  Uncle Al was kind, caring, resourceful and a hard worker.   I have many fond memories of visiting Uncle Al in Carmel and in Florida.  

Aunt Dee and Zasso family, our thoughts and prayers are with you at this time.   John, Samantha & Jude Lund

I was blessed with three handsome, talented brothers.  Allie, born when I was 15 months old, was kind, warm and considerate to all.  We learned to dance together on the sidewalks of New York.
I loved, respected and admired him.  He did the Zasso family proud.  I will treasure our shared memories.
A loving sister,
Jean

May 04 2012 

To Dad.

Me and Mom miss you very much and we love you and we will think about you always and forever will think about you and the good times that we had.  and you are a very good Dad and we all
miss you.

All My Love.

Barbara Zasso.

And Dee Zasso.

Deepest sympathy for your loss. May the love and support you recieve from loving and caring family and friends and may your faith in the "God of all comfort" be a source of strength to each of you in you time of need.2Cor.1:3

Dear Al Zasso,

I have known your son Charlie now for 4 years in our business relationship. I know you know this, but you and Dee did a wonderful job raising such an accomplished son as you have. I wish I could have met you as what Charlie has said about you and what you gave to him in love, support and guidance is very similar to what my father gave to me. Your family will miss you as others will. Charlie will carry on as he has in the past the very foundation you gave him for a successful life. He is a credit to you and Dee. My best to your family..... Peter Grumbos

Very sorry to hear about your loss .My deepest sympathy.

Anne and Phil Morganstein

.

Dear Zasso Family,

When the telephone rang we knew it was not going to be good news. Yet until you actually hear the words it seems far away and not all that possible.  We are truly sorry for the loss of your beloved father Al.  

From the beautiful photo gallery you can get a sense of the kind of man he was.  He always seemed to have a smile, that sense of good humour, and of course the unending love of his entire family. Each picture is like a classic moment to remember and share with family and friends forever.

We know that it is a very difficult time, but lean on each other and you'll gain strength from the support and love that your family and friends have to give.
We are thinking of you all and hope and pray that your family should know no more sorrow. 

Love,
Linda and Gary Teltscher and Family and Sala Tiffenberg

Uncle Al was one of the nicest and most generous persons I have ever known.  He was always willing to take the kids out to the lake and/or entertain us.  I always looked forward to our visits.

Zasso Family,

Our thoughts and prayers are with your family at this time. May the love of your family help you through this difficult time.

Love your family at Woodfield

Thank you for your hospitality when i came to visit, both at the projects and up in Carmel. Your very kind and lovely, loving family lives on.

One of the things I remember most vividly about grandpa is the time he had his boat behind our house in St. Petersburg. He had it up out of the water on cables and he was spending hours scraping barnacles off the hull. It was hard work that required alot of strength and stamina. When he was almost finished, the cable broke unexpectantly and the boat tumbled into the water. The plug was out so the boat started to swamp rapidly. He immediately jumped off the dock into the boat then into the water. It was dangerous but he was able to insert the plug and saved his boat from sinking. Unbelievably, he was in his 70's at the time! He was amazing, resourceful and strong; I will always remember him that way. I wish we could set up our LGB train sets and enjoy each other's company one more time. Your grandson-David Alexander Tiffenberg

        Dear Grandpa,
I hope that when you left this Earth, you knew how deeply and strongly I loved you. You were the best dancer, sailor, fisherman, and most honarable person I knew. I miss you so much and wish I got to see you more. Thanks for the last moments we had together... they were so special. I love you with all of my heart.
      Your baby Grandaughter,

        Dear Grandpa,
I hope that when you left this Earth, you knew how deeply and strongly I loved you. You were the best dancer, sailor, fisherman, and most honarable person I knew. I miss you so much and wish I got to see you more. Thanks for the last moments we had together... they were so special. I love you with all of my heart.
      Your baby Grandaughter, 
   Sarah

Uncle Al was a kind, patient and Happy Man.  I will never forget his thoughtfulness.  When I bought my first home, he put together a huge toolbox for me.  It contained all sort of tools and weighed a ton.  Uncle Al said I would need these tools.  He will be missed but never forgotten.  - Kelly Powers

Dad you are the last of a great generation. There isn't anything you can't do. You designed and built our home with your own hands, you taught us to dance, to drive, to fish, and sail. You were a motorcycle jockey-even driving to work in the winter snows. You worked hard and never complained. You are kind and loving-with never an unkind word about anyone. By example you show us how to be better people. I am so proud of you. You are my inspiration-
I will always love and admire you. 
Your loving daughter -Gail

OBITUARY

Alexander J. Zasso

19 March, 1926 – 29 April, 2012

Serenity Funeral Home & Serenity Gardens Memorial Park

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