Anthony Joseph Grasso died December 15, 2006 at his home, surrounded by
his family. He passed after a nine-month struggle with lung cancer.
Funeral services will be at Holy Trinity Catholic Church on Tuesday,
December 19, at 10 a.m. followed by burial in Glendale Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Monday, December 18, at Grandview Park Funeral
Home from 6 to 8 p.m. with a rosary being said at 7 p.m.

Tony was born in Des Moines July 30th, 1950 to Priscilla (Fasano) and
Anthony M. Grasso. Tony grew up on the East side of Des Moines and went
to Visitation and Dowling High School. Upon graduation from high school,
Tony attended Loras College and Drake University, received his Masters
of Social Work from the University of Michigan and his Doctorate from
Hunter College in New York. Tony taught social work administration at
the University of Michigan, University of Nevada-Las Vegas, and Howard
University during his long teaching career. Tony also owned Integrated
Technical Services, a social work and administration consulting business
that provided services to local, state and national organizations
including Des Moines' PACE Orchard Place, the Department of Health and
Human Services, and Boysville of Michigan. His last job was as Executive
Director of the Des Moines Social Services Directors Council. Anthony
Grasso left his mark on the world by helping countless young people,
often from disadvantaged backgrounds, achieve and surpass what many
thought were impossible dreams.

Tony is survived by his wife, Debbie; his parents, Anthony Michael and
Priscilla Grasso; his children, Bernadette Marie (Matthew) Swanson of
Ann Arbor, MI, Catherine Siena (Michael) Quist, also of Ann Arbor, and
Ian Anthony Grasso of San Diego, CA; and his granddaughter, Elleanor
Quist. In addition, Tony is survived by two sisters, Frances Brownell
and Marilyn Carter (Bill), and his brother Leonard (Mary) and many
nieces, nephews, cousins and friends, all of whom loved him dearly and
will miss him greatly.

Memorial contributions may be made to The Priestly Fraternity of St.
Peter, United Way of Central Iowa or Holy Cross Children Services of
Michigan.