Obituary of Ruth Maryann Sasso

NAUGATUCK - Ruth M. Sasso of Naugatuck, age 89, passed away peacefully on July 31, 2018 after a long illness.

Professor Sasso was born in Bridgeport, CT, on December 9, 1928, a daughter of the late A. Nicholas and Mildred (Hayes) Sasso. She graduated from Laurelton Hall Academy in Milford and earned her BS in Education in 1961 from St. Joseph’s College in West Hartford. She went on to earn her MA in Education from St. Joseph’s in 1968. She earned additional credits at CCSU and Fairfield University and studied data processing at several institutions of higher learning. She worked as the coordinator of Early Childhood Education at Naugatuck Valley Community College for 28 years where she taught many courses and supervised student teachers; she was “a teacher of the teachers.”

During her tenure at NVCC (then called Mattatuck Community College,) she founded the Child Development Center. After seven years of research, and with the approval and encouragement of the division director, she both established and directed the NAEYC accredited center from 1977 to 1980, where she touched the lives of countless young children.

Before her retirement in 1999, Professor Sasso served as a validator for the NAEYC accreditation program, was an educational consultant for many ECE center in the central Naugatuck Valley and advised local ECE directors on curriculum development, served on the Naugatuck Head Start Advisory Committee and coordinated, directed and wrote curriculum for the Title XX Daycare Training Program.

She traveled to take part in professional development seminars in Sweden, Belgium, Walt Disney World, Germany, and Tempe, AZ. Professional affiliations included NAEYC, National Coalition of Campus Child Care Professionals, CT Early Childhood Council, and Action for Children’s Television. She is listed in Who’s Who of American Intellectuals, Who’s Who in American Women, Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who in the East, Who’s Who of the Women in Education, American Catholic Who’s Who, National Social Directory, Personalities of America, American Biographical Institute and Biographical Honor Roll. 

Following her retirement, Professor Sasso volunteered countless hours in the primary grades of Maple Hill and Andrew Avenue Elementary Schools in Naugatuck. She was never happier than working with the late kindergarten teacher MaryEllen Marques and the other teachers she assisted and respected.  She loved the Muppets, old movies, Disney, crossword puzzles, any animal and all things Broadway.

Beside her parents, she was predeceased by her beloved brother Austin N. Sasso and her grandnephew Jonathan Austin Henry.

Because nothing was more important to “Aunt Ruth” than family, she leaves to cherish her memory a large, devoted family, and a multitude of former students. She leaves one sister, Margaret Lagasse and husband Normand, of Arizona and her sister-in-law Marie J. Sasso of Stratford.

Her beloved nieces and nephews include Patch.com contributor Nancy Sasso Janis and her former husband John Henry of Naugatuck who provided care for her,  David Sasso, and wife Marcy of New Jersey, Jeffrey Sasso, and wife Patricia McCay of Killingworth, Mark Sasso, and wife Kim of North Carolina, and Christine Reuther, and husband Daniel of North Carolina, Timothy Lagasse and his wife Melissa of California, Patrick Lagasse and his wife Maureen of Wallingford, Eileen Lagasse and her wife Cary Grey of Wallingford, and Maureen Ysewyn of Ledyard.

Her grand nieces and nephews include Nicholas Henry and his partner Kristin Brickel R.N. of Naugatuck, Adam and Christian (CJ) Janis, Julie and Jenna Sasso, Isabelle and Juliette Sasso, and James, Stephen, and Austin Sasso, Brennan, Ryan, and Carter Lagasse, Clark, Reid, Kellan and Grayson Ysewyn.

The family would like to thank the members of the pastoral care department at Waterbury Hospital and her ICU nurses Christine, Jessica, Lauren and Nelson who helped her pass with dignity. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Ruth’s passions which included the animals of Guiding Eyes for the Blind or 1214 Foundation, a nonprofit that works with children in Sandy Hook to present high quality musicals every summer.

Arrangements- Calling hours will be Friday, August 3, 2018 from 5:00 - 8:00 pm at Alderson Ford Funeral Home of Naugatuck, 201 Meadow St, 06770. Professor Sasso’s funeral will start 9:15 A.M, Saturday, August 4, 2018 from the funeral home and proceed to St. Vincent Ferrer Church, 1006 New Haven Rd, Naugatuck, 06770 for a Funeral Mass to be celebrated at 10 A.M. Friends are encouraged to meet directly at the church. Burial to follow at St. James Cemetery.