Birth date: Sep 3, 1927 Death date: Oct 6, 2018
Dr. Mary Ellen Grasso, age 91 of Gainesville, FL, passed away Saturday, October 6, 2018. She was born September 3, 1927, in Arnold, PA, to Steve and Grace Puglisi Cipolla. Dr. Grasso was an educator for 49 years, and she retired a Read Obituary
Hi mom! I'm a Mia now, and you have another great granddaughter I miss you every single day! I love you! xoxoxox
Dr. Grasso was my chairman at Broward Community College; she was a great leader and a wonderful human being; I am privileged to have known her; God Bless! Dr. Ronald R. Hulewicz
'Miss' Cipolla was my journalism teacher at Arnold High School and she was an advisor for our yearbook. She introduced me to Westminster College where I subsequently attended and from which I graduated. To say that she influenced my life would be an understatement.
On May 14th I was ready to give my yearly call to Dr. Grasso when I found out about her passing. My condolences reaches out to the Grasso Family. I can still recall my first English class while attending Broward Jr. College in the fall of 1969 and what a very good teacher that she was. Jerry Monaco (Pittsburgh, PA)
I have loving memories of Mary Ellen. She allowed me to attend College in Florida, she enriched my personality with an International perspective and left me a long-lasting legacy in my personal and professional life. Thank you, Mary Ellen. R. I. P.
Our heart-felt condolences to Susan, Steven and their families.
Daniela La Rocca Heydecker with Florian Sr, Florian Jr, Brenda, and Erika, Andrea and Vittoria La Rocca.
We have hundreds of great memories of Mary Ellen, Orazio, Steven and Susan--Friends and Neighbors for 40 plus years... Mary Ellen was a fabulous teacher and administrator. She influenced and enhanced the lives of hundreds of her students and her friends as well. She was also a "grounded" leader--operating from a consistently applied set of values that challenged so many faculty and others to be the best! She could not be intimidated by anyone. I remember so many great examples of her leadership but one stands out in bold relief: A powerful politico tried to "influence" her decision in a certain matter. She stood firm and never gave in to his demands. Orazio's description of her was priceless--(forgive my Italian) --"My Wifea, shesa gotta two bigga ones". This became the part of the lore of the College and was used to describe bravery by many of us over the years.
Mary Ellen was a wonderful person who enhanced all our lives and she will be missed....George and Dawn Young
So many memories of your mom! Your beautiful mother welcomed me in your family and became my second mom. I can still vividly remember her laugh as though she was standing next to me. I loved our conversations and the way she spoke. She encouraged me in school and took the time to help me with my English papers. I never thought I was a good student in school but your mom took an interest and helped me discover that I actually enjoyed English literature and creative writing. Her voice always drew me in. I loved the way she pronounced your name, my name, Tracy’s and others. It’s hard to explain but I just loved her voice. I noticed the other day Susan that you speak and sound so much like her. Remember all those years at Christmas time when she would make the pizzelles and we sat around your kitchen table just waiting for them to come off the iron to eat? She’d be telling us stories of when she was growing up or about her siblings and your cousins or her days in college. She’d have such a big smile on her face and again there was that laugh! I cherished those times, even then I knew they were special. Someday soon I hope, we can travel down memory lane together. Mary Ellen was the real deal and she was an angel in my life.
