Anthony Nassar

Anthony “Tony” Nassar began life on August 23, 1927 in Havana, Cuba where he would live for 13 years. At the age of 13, Tony would leave his parents and brothers to live with relatives in Pittsburg, PA. At the age of 21, after 3 ½ years studying Business Administration in college, he left college and in June of 1948, joined the U.S. Army. Like many young men of his era, Tony felt a strong calling to serve in the military for the United States. Shortly after joining the Army, Tony would meet Lillian Asmer, the woman who would become his wife on a date that was set up by an Army Buddy, Lito Nejame. Tony would hitchhike almost 200 miles each way from Fort Dix, NJ to Torrington, CT every weekend for the next 19 months to court Lillian. From the very first date he knew Lillian would be the one he would marry. Their union created 3 children. Shortly after Tony and Lillian were married, he was stationed at Camp Jackson, SC where he was the Command NCO sent to whip Camp Jackson back into shape to train new recruits for the Korean War. While Tony was in South Carolina, the U.S. Army designated Camp Jackson as Fort Jackson where it remains a center for the U.S. Army Training Command to this day. Tony achieved the rank of Staff Sargent in a short 2 years. He remained at Fort Jackson until he left the Army with an Honorable Discharge after serving 4 years in the service of what would become his new country. After Tony left the Army, he became a citizen of the United States on October 17, 1951. It would remain one of the most meaningful days of his life outside of his marriage to Lillian and the birth of his children. After leaving the Army, Tony and Lillian stayed in South Carolina where they went into business for themselves. In late 1954, Tony and Lillian decided to move to Orlando where they would operate several successful businesses in the greater central Florida area. During the early years in Orlando, Tony would aid in bringing his 4 brothers and parents from Cuba to the United States where they all became proud U.S. citizens. While in Orlando, Tony and Lillian were members of the Syrian Lebanese American Club, where he would serve a term as President. Tony’s love of his family shone through in the dedication to his children, grandchildren, brothers and beyond. There was nothing he would not do for his family. Among the constants in Tony’s life was the love of his family, John Wayne movies and the infamous Saturday lunches with his brothers! Tony went to be with our Lord on Easter Sunday, April 21, 2019. He was preceded in death by his wife Lillian and is survived by his daughter Sandra Nassar Iller and her husband Kirk Iller; his son Anthony and his wife Susan Nassar; his daughter Adria Nassar Arrowsmith and his granddaughters, Anna and Laura Arrowsmith. We will always miss our father and mother, for you will always be in our hearts.