Joseph A. Grassi of Mendham passed away on Dec. 31, 2013 at Holly Manor Center in Mendham. He was 90. Born in Mendham he was a lifelong Mendham resident. Joe was an Army veteran who served in the 11th Airborne Division Company 188, during WWII from 1943 to 1946. He was the recipient of a purple heart.
He was a Bricklayer-Mason working for Bricklayers Craft workers Union Local No.4 in Fairfield for 33 years before retiring in 1993.
Joe joined the Mendham Fire Department in June, 1952; became exempt in 1959—in total he was an active member for over 61 years—one of the longest tenures in the department’s 108 year history.
He was also a longtime member of the the Mendham First Aid Rescue Squad, St. Joseph Church and the Mendham Pastime Club.
He was predeceased by brother—and Mendham Fire Department Ex-Chief—John Grassi, sister Mary Grassi, and son-in-law Dirk Beaumont. Survivors include his wife Agatha Fragomeni Grassi, two sons; Richard Grassi (Lynn) of MD, and Jospeh J. Grassi of CO., one daughter, Sandra Beaumont of Budd Lake, NJ., and two brothers; Rocco and Mike Grassi. He is also survived by his grandchildren; Brian (Monica) and Blake Beaumont, Brittney Barefield (Daniel), Joseph, Alex, Jeffrey and Alyson Grassi and his great grandchildren Julia, Morgan and Hunter Beaumont and Emma and Bryant Barefield.
Visitation will be held on Friday, January 3, from 4-8 pm at the Bailey Funeral Home, 8 Hilltop Rd., Mendham. Funeral Mass Saturday, January 4, 11 am at St. Joseph Church, Mendham. Interment Mendham Hilltop Cemetery. For those desiring, donations to the Mendham Fire Department or St. Joseph R.C. Church in his memory, would be appreciated.
Arrangements are being made by the Bailey Funeral Home, Mendham—www.baileyfuneralhomes.com.
