Rosario Bill Sasso

Rosario Bill Sasso, born November 22, 1940, died on October 12, 2024

Born in the village of Policastrello in the province of Cosenza, Italy, Bill was the son of Elvira and Raffaele Sasso. Bill was predeceased by his parents and younger brother, Luigi.

Not one to talk about himself, Bill shared a few childhood stories of playing soccer and having a pet goat in his small village. At the age of 12, he immigrated with his parents to Montreal, Canada, quickly assuming the role of family provider.

In 1963, Bill met Marianne who, as a teacher, was working at the bowling alley for the summer. His goal quickly turned to being “teacher’s pet” which was the beginning of a love that spanned 61 years.

Advancing rapidly in manufacturing positions, Bill was recruited by several companies. In January 1977, he moved to Amsterdam, NY to serve as the plant manager at Gem Urethane, where he spent the next 30+ years using his talents to grow the business and adeptly solve chemical and mechanical issues that invariably came up. While he was an incredibly hard worker and the most loyal employee, in 2005 he was ready to retire and embark on a new chapter. He was always drawn to warmer climates, first exploring the beauty of Venezuela but ultimately deciding to retire in Florida. 

Bill was a life long learner who liked nothing more than solving a mechanical problem or better understanding his various health conditions. He was a sportsman, whether it was bowling professionally, playing in his local tennis league or enjoying Sundays watching football. In retirement, golf became his passion and was the source of many great friendships.

Bill is survived by Marianne and their two children, Julie (Patrick McSharry) and Rob (Michele) and his four beloved grandchildren, Kaitlyn, Fiona, Grady and Nico. It would be hard to find someone more dedicated to family - Bill took his role as patriarch seriously. His family, particularly his grandchildren, were the center of his world.

His smile could light up a room and everyone was drawn in by his warm twinkling eyes that were always focused intently on who he was talking with. That smile will be missed.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Tunnel to Towers Foundation (t2t.org) a charity Bill supported or to a charity of your choosing.

Calling hours will be on Saturday November 9th, from 3 pm to 5 pm at Applebee Funeral Home in Delmar, NY followed by a private memorial service.