Henry Fragasse

Henry “Hank” Fragasse, age 83, of Dover, passed away peacefully from the company of his six daughters and sons to his heavenly reward early Sunday morning, November 20, 2011 in Park Village Assisted Living. Born Enrico Rinaldo Fragasse on January 24, 1928 in his family’s New Philadelphia home, he was one of fifteen children born to the late Pasquale and Elizabeth Antonelli Fragasse. Henry grew up in Dover after the family moved to their Regent Street home when he was just two years of age, and he would reside in that residence for the next eighty-one years. Best known as Hank to his family and friends, he was a 1946 graduate of Dover High School where he was an athletic stand-out playing basketball and four years of varsity football as quarterback and linebacker, earning him and All Ohio honorable mention during his senior year. When not busy with athletics, Hank could be found working as a caddy at Union Country Club where he mastered the ability to play a beautiful round of golf without ever using a driver. Hank left Dover to join the United States Navy serving in the years between the end of World War II, and the Korean War. Upon discharge, he earned a bachelors degree from Heidelberg University concentrating in business education. Hank continued playing football beyond High School, proudly dressing in the uniforms of both Navy for two years, and Heidelberg for four years. With the post-war building boom still well underway, Hank joined the International Brotherhood of Bricklayers and Allied Craftsmen Local #6 and became a brick mason with Raeder Construction where he worked for many years. He was proud to have laid brick to bring to life the present St. Joseph Parrish at Dover and later, working for Gundy Construction, the Tuscarawas Central Catholic High School building at New Philadelphia, among many other notable buildings. Hank was most proud of the brick laying technique used to construct the (former) Bank One building on the corner of East Third and Tuscarawas Avenues in Dover, now home to Chase Bank. His craftsmanship earned written praise from bank officials for the extraordinary appearance of the building.As Buckeye Joint Vocation School was formed in the mid 1970’s Hank left behind his union work and returned to school earning his teaching certification that enabled him to pioneer the masonry education program at Buckeye. Hank was right at home among the valley’s young people. He had served on the football coaching staff of the Tuscarawas Central Catholic Saints under the direction of the late Art Teynor from Hank’s early years coaching the St. Joseph Ramblers through the consolidation into Tuscarawas Central Catholic ultimately leaving the sideline in 1993. Hank also became certified as a varsity basketball official.Ever a busy man, Hank was a lifelong member of Dover’s St. Joseph Catholic Church, and never turned down an opportunity lend his support to parrish life. He was also a member of the Dover VFW, where he could be found playing a friendly game of Gin with his many friends including Jim Markino and Joe Zifer. He had recently attended the sixty-fifth reunion of the Dover High School Class of 1946, was an avid gardener, giving away most everything he raised â?? but became especially sought after for the braided garlic he grew annually for more than fifty years. Hank did his part to ensure that family and friends kept in touch. He was the original organizer of the annual Tin Town Reunion held for many years at the Tuscarawas County Fairgrounds, and when the committee grew smaller, and the responsibility greater for him, he began opening his home for the reunion in recent years. A familiar face on Deis Hill during warm summer evenings, Hank will be remembered for his love of bocce, a game he taught his family to play, ultimately coaching his daughters and daughters-in-law.When Hank was in need of exercise, he enjoyed long hikes over Elephant Hill to spend the afternoon berry picking. His indomitable will to keep busy would tire the most active among our community today. On November 7, 1953, Hank wed the former Dolores June Dupler. The couple went on to rear their family instilling the value of hard work and service to the church and community. They celebrated fifty-two anniversaries before Dolores passed on January 14, 2006. Survivors include three daughters; Marla (husband Kevin) Alexander of Dover, Marianne (husband Tom) Carpenter of New Philadelphia and Susan LoPresti and her fiancé Del Levengood of Dover, as well as three sons; Joseph Fragasse of Dover, John (wife Heidi) Fragasse of New Philadelphia and James (wife Laurie) Fragasse of Zoar. He’ll be sadly missed by his grandchildren Ian, Maria and Jared Alexander, Michael and Adrian Marsh, Hillary and Jake Carpenter, Billy, Rico, Marko, Louis and Steven LoPresti, Gus and Max Fragasse and Gabriel and Camrynn Fragasse and two great-grandchildren Michael and Olivia Marsh. A brother, the last surviving of fifteen siblings, Orlando “Peach” Fragasse of New Philadelphia, also survives, as well as his sisters-in-law; Jewell Fragasse of Nashville, TN, Emmajane Dupler of Dover, Juanita (husband Bill) Page of Dover and Betty Dupler of Greenville, South Carolina, and more than one hundred nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews who complete the family. In addition to his parents and wife, Hank is preceded in death by his infant son, David Fragasse, grandson, Vincent Alexander, sisters Mary Cipriano, Italia West, Viola DiGenova and Pauldina Berndt, brothers Joe, Nello Lewis, Armando, Bruno and Pasquale Fragasse, Jr. and three brothers who died in infancy. Hank is also preceded in death by his brothers and sisters in law; Jerry and Kenny Dupler, Barbara Devault, Bill Devault, Guido Orlando, Louis Cipriano, Joseph DiGenova, Burman Berndt, Gladys Fragasse, Beatrice Fragasse, Mary Fragasse, Marian Fragasse and Margaret Fragasse. Friends are invited to call Friday, November 25, from 2-4 and from 6-8 in the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home & Crematory at New Philadelphia where Christian Wake Services will commence at 8 PM Friday evening. Father Matthew Hoover will celebrate Mass of Christian Burial Saturday morning at 11 in St. Joseph Catholic Church at Dover. The procession to the church will depart from the New Philadelphia funeral home at 10:40 with prayers commencing at 10:20. Burial, with military honors will follow in St. Joseph Calvary Cemetery at Dover. Following the committal service, family and friends will gather for a reception in the Tuscarawas Central Catholic Elementary School Cafeteria. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Joseph Catholic Church, 613 North Tuscarawas Avenue, Dover, OH 44622.