Anthony R. Casamasima

West Boylston-Anthony R. Casamasima, 93, passed away on Wednesday, November 23, 2022 with his devoted daughter, Cara by his side.

 

Tony was born in Worcester on May 10, 1929 son of proud Italian immigrants, Caterina (Campanale) and Vincent Casamassima.  He shared stories about growing up with his siblings and helping his Dad who owned a cobbler store in Worcester. After high school, he proudly served his country in The United States Army where he learned his trade as a Dental Technician.  After returning home from the military, Tony resided in West Boylston and was the owner of The City Dental Lab on Main St. in Worcester. He was passionate about his dental career and worked well into his late 80’s. Tony was also an accomplished singer and musician, he played the stand up bass and sang in many nightclubs throughout New England.  He was most proud of founding “The Tony Casino Trio” and often played and sang with the Perry Conte Orchestra. He loved to entertain and tell stories about his singing career. He had a deep affection for animals of all kind, a true animal lover who treated all his dogs as royalty. 

Those that knew him craved his cooking and especially his Italian meatballs, he just loved cooking for his family.  During the summers he spent hours tending his tomato plants, cucumbers, and peach trees, his gardens were stunning, and he was extremely proud to show you around. On holidays, he would sing, dance, and make everyone laugh.  He loved going to his brother Vinny’s house and would rave about he and his wife Joan’s amazing Italian food.  Tony was a lover of horse racing, keno, scratch tickets, and the lottery, his motto was “go broke before you croak” and he passed his time having fun doing so.  He always had a smile and was memorable to people he met throughout his life.  He was cared for by all the doctors and nurses that followed his renal disease since 2017, if it weren’t for their compassionate care and positive reinforcement, he never would have made it into his 90’s.  He was also deeply cared for by his home health aid, Joe, in which they shared a very special bond.

Tony was affectionately known by some of his grandchildren as Boppy, or Grandpa, yet he was also known as Fudd, a silly name made up by his daughter and friends while they were in high school at Rye Beach in NH, another place he loved to go to in the summers.   He was loved and looked after by his neighbors and they referred to him as the neighborhood grandpa. Tony shared a very special bond with his granddaughter Sovah and grandson Rainn as well as his son in law, Phil. 

 

Anthony leaves many behind that love and will miss him deeply including, Charles A. Casamasima of Wildwood FL and his children, Tara, Coral, and Chuckie all of Florida, Doris Gianfriddo of West Brookfield, and her son Erik Fales and his wife Melissa of Ware, Heidi Casamasima and her husband Barre LaValle and their children Bryce and Gavin of Reading, and Cara L. Casamasima and her husband Philippe Blais and their children Sovah and Rainn of Princeton; his step-children, Corinne Day and her children Christopher, Matthew, and Liam of Sterling, and Kevin Day and his wife Lydia of New Mexico.  He leaves his brother Vincent and his wife, Joan Casamassima of Northboro; and his sister Dorothy Metz of Northboro; niece Sheila Suire of Holden and several more nieces,  nephews, and great grandchildren.   He was predeceased by his former wife, Theresa (Barnjum) Casamasima of Princeton, a daughter, Kathy L. Casamasima and  brothers Al (Casamassima) Casino and Domenic Casamasina.

 

 

Family and friends are welcomed to a celebration of Tony’s life with a graveside service Tuesday, November 29 at 10:00am in Mount Vernon Cemetery, Church Street, West Boylston. We will be congregating in the parking lot at Fay Brothers Life Celebration Home, 1 West Boylston Street, West Boylston at 9:45am and heading in procession to the cemetery.

 

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Anthony’s name to the National Kidney Foundation @kidney.org