Obituary of Anthony J Asselta

Anthony J. "Anch" "Tony" Asselta, passed away on June 5th at home surrounded by his family after a six-month battle with pancreatic cancer. A lifelong resident of Vineland he was born on July 24, 1931 to the late James J. Asselta and Concetta "Tina" (Zito). Tony attended Sacred Heart Grammar School and graduated from Sacred Heart High School in 1950. He was an early member of Sacred Heart's Boy Scout Troop 36. He enlisted in the US Army, went to artillery school and became a paratrooper with the 11th Airborne Division. After completing Officers' Candidate School he achieved the rank of lieutenant. Following his discharge from active duty he continued to serve in the Army Reserves achieving the rank of captain. He graduated with a BA in education, class of 1957 from Glassboro State Teachers College. He became a teacher of mathematics and science at Vineland Landis High School. While there Tony also coached the freshman baseball team and the High School chess team. He returned to Glassboro to earn his master's degree in counseling. He became a guidance counselor at Memorial Junior High School, where he remained until his retirement in 1986. In 1955 he married Ruth Charlotte Carroll and together they had five children. While raising his family he also worked for Precision Electronic Glass, Sears and Roebuck, and as a surveyor for Bertino Engineering. Tony coached little league baseball and served as the president of Vineland Little League in the 1970's. He also umpired, little league, Babe Ruth League, high school and college games. He was an active lifelong member of Sacred Heart Church, Christ the Good Shepard Parish, a long time member of the Diamond Social Club and many other local service organizations. He was a founding member and a past president of the Vineland Dry Anchor Yacht Club. He liked traveling to Maine, Florida and Virginia. He and Ruth spent the last several winters in St. Augustine, FL and each year for a week the entire family would join them in Williamsburg, VA. He enjoyed woodcarving, ham radio, gardening, fishing, photography, power boating, motorcycling and dancing, especially country dancing with Ruth. Above all he enjoyed being with his family. Tony is survived by his wife Ruth, and all five of his children: Rebecca Baruffi who with her husband Michael live in Randolph, NJ; Roger Asselta, who with his wife Amy reside in South Harrison Township, NJ; Robert and companion Barbara Rogers of Millville; Richard Asselta and companion Susan Smuzinsky of Vineland; and William Asselta who with his wife Maria live in Dunellen, NJ. He is survived by his nine grandchildren: Robert Asselta of Vineland, Tamara Asselta of Portland Oregon, Dominick Asselta of Millville, Michelle Baruffi of NYC, Christina Asselta of Vineland, Megan Asselta of South Harrison, Amanda Asselta of Celebration, FL, Steven Baruffi of Amherst MA, and Matthew Asselta of Fulshear, TX. He is also survived by three great-grandchildren; Christopher De Los Santos, Jacqueline O'Loughlin and Alex De Los Santos. Funeral Home Visitations will be on Sunday evening, June 8 from 6pm to 8pm and again Monday morning June 9 from 9:45am to 10:45am at Rone Funeral Service, 1110 East Chestnut Avenue, Vineland, NJ. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 11:30 am on Monday, June 9 at Christ The Good Shepherd Parish - Church Of Sacred Heart, 1010 East Landis Avenue, Vineland, NJ. Burial will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Vineland, NJ. Donations in memory of Anthony may be made to: 1. Christ The Good Shepherd Parish , 1655 Magnolia Road, Vineland, NJ 08361 2. The National Pancreas Foundation, 3 Bethesda Metro Center, Suite 700 Bethesda, MD 20814. Arrangements are under the supervision of Rone Funeral Service, 1110 East Chestnut Avenue, Vineland, NJ 08360. To send online condolences please visit our website at WWW.RONEFUNERALSERVICE.COM