Obituary of Arthur J Basso

Arthur James Basso, 100, passed away at Sunrise Senior Living, Randolph, NJ, on October 5, after a long illness. He was predeceased by Rosemary A. (Vogel) Basso, his devoted wife of 69 years.

“Art” was born in Brooklyn, NY, to the late Samuel and Mary (Apicella) Basso. He attended Boys High School and The City College of NY, where he studied chemistry and played basketball.

While at City College, Art was drafted by the United States Army to serve his country in World War II. He proudly fought on the “front lines” during the Battles of the Bulge and Remagen with the 311th regiment of the 78th Infantry Division. He earned the rank of Staff Sargent and several medals, including the Bronze Star and Purple Heart. Following the war, Art finished his undergraduate degree at St. Francis College, and went on to earn an MS in chemistry from Duquesne University, where he met Rosemary, and later, an MBA from Rutgers University.

Professionally, chemistry was Art’s passion, and he enjoyed a long and successful career, first as a chemist at Merck & Co., Rahway, NJ, where he holds multiple patents, and finally as an inorganic chemical specialist at the Witco Chemical Corp. in New York City.

Art and Rosemary married in 1950 and settled in East Brunswick, NJ, where they raised six children. Art continued his love for basketball by coaching his two sons in the local CYO league. His favorite hobbies were working in his workshop and tinkering around the house. He was also an avid college and professional sports fan, and enjoyed cheering on any team from New York and New Jersey.

Art is survived by his six children, Richard and his wife Patrice of Naperville, IL, Donald of Laconia, NH, Maryann Sievers of Durham, NC, Diane Stein and her husband David of Randolph, NJ, Kathleen Schwint and her husband Geoffrey of Hillsborough, NJ, and Audrey DeSimone and her husband John of Hopkinton, MA.

He loved spending time with his grandchildren and attended many dance recitals, ball games and graduations. He was the proud grandfather of 15 grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, including Eileen, Peter, Margaret, Terrence, Christopher, Sean, Madeline, Jeremy, Jonathan, Leah, Jamie, Alex, Elizabeth, Caroline, Calvin, Haeley, Rory and Callie. He was predeceased by his granddaughter Christin, who he joins in Heaven with Rosemary.

A private burial will be held at a later date. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his name to a charity that benefits US veterans.

Arrangements by Tuttle Funeral Home, Randolph (www.tuttlefh.com).