Henry J. Assetto

Henry John Assetto passed away peacefully at home on December 5, 2021 surrounded by loved ones at the age of 75.

Henry was born November 2, 1946 in Coatesville, Pennsylvania to parents, Anthony Assetto and Elena Assetto (nee Catenese) and raised alongside sister, Rachel. 

Henry was above all else a family man. He married his greatest love, Angelina Carmela Assetto (nee Mariniello) of West Philadelphia, PA on June 14, 1974. In their 47 years of marriage, they raised five children, Lena, Anthony, Rita, Philip, and Michael. He will be lovingly remembered for his amazing cooking, his award winning Garden of Distinction by Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, his unending selfless love and his warm and welcoming home. Henry’s legacy and traditions of family will live on in his children, their spouses; Joseph, Jennifer, Daniel, Michele and Joseph; and his ten grandchildren; Emma, Sophia, Natalia, Bella, Nicholas, Keira, Gabrielle, Christopher, Cresap, and Victoria.

Henry will also be remembered for a life well lived and full of accomplishments in service to his students, his community, and his church. As a graduate of West Chester University, Penn State University - Graduate Program, and through completion of a Fellowship at Kings College of Oxford University, Henry developed as a noteworthy historian and educator. 

He began his career in education in Harrisburg Public Schools, but quickly returned to his hometown of Coatesville where he took up teaching at Gordon Middle School. Through a tenure of 32 years in Coatesville Area School District, Henry’s list of accomplishments and honors included National History Teacher of the Year (1999), Awards Chair for Pennsylvania Council for the Social Studies, Member of the House of Delegates National Council for the Social Studies, Member of National Social Studies Instructional Committee, and content advisor and editor with both McDougal Littell and Houghton Mifflin. 

Despite, a short retirement, Henry returned to the classroom once again at Twin Valley High School, as an inaugural faculty member of the Charter High School of Architecture and Design (Philadelphia, PA), and finally as a member of the Education Department at Longwood Gardens, where he served for 15 years in a role that combined his passion for education with his love and skill of gardening for a total tenure of 52 years in the classroom.  

His life of service to his community continued through his tenure as an elected member of the Coatesville Area School Board where Henry championed the rights of students and faculty alike.

Through his life, Henry was a devoted Roman Catholic and member of St. Peter Church in Coatesville, Pennsylvania where he and his wife, Angelina, served as members of the Arts and Environment Committee for 10 years. Henry was an active member of The Men of Malvern at St. Joseph in the Hills - Retreat House, a Fourth Degree Knight of Columbus, and Member of Order of Sons and Daughters of Italy.  

Henry will be deeply missed and loved by all of those that had the privilege to know him.  It is the hope of Angelina and his family that his memory, much like his life, be one full of great company, good food, and timeless stories. 

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:30 am on Friday, December 10 at St. Peter Church, 2835 Manor Road, West Brandywine, PA.  Relatives and friends may visit with the family from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 9 and from 10:15 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. on Friday at the church.  Interment will be in All Souls Cemetery, West Brandywine Township.

In his memory, contributions may be made to St. Peter Church, Pope John Paul II School, 2875 Manor Road, West Brandywine, PA 19320.  Donations can be made towards The Henry J. Assetto Memorial Scholarship Fund at Coatesville Area Senior High School via GoFundMe.com
 

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