Larry Ascoli

Born: February 13th, 1930

Passed on: September 20th, 2012

Guy Laurent Ascoli was born on February 13, 1930 in Ghent, Belgium. He was the son of Joseph René Ascoli and Blanche Muyshondt and had fourteen brothers and sisters: René, Marguerite, Gladys, Marie-Thérèse, Julma, Teddy, Blanche, Gabrièle, Elisabeth, Liliane, Françoise, Jacques, Solange, and Rosemary. Larry moved to Portugal with his family when he was 9 years old to avoid the dangers of WWII. He moved to Jamaica for the same reason one year later and remained there during his high school years. The Ascoli family planned to move to the United States but had a sudden change of heart (which ultimately saved their lives) and moved to Montreal by airplane instead. A journalist took a photo of the Ascoli family all dressed in shorts and cotton dresses in the middle as they got off the airplane in Montreal in the middle of a snowstorm. The photo made the front page of the Montreal Gazette. Larry looked like an angel with his curly hair but his sisters report that he was not always an angel, if the truth is to be told… Larry studied for 9 years to become a Jesuit priest and teacher. He did not take his vows, but did teach for over 25 years at Loyola High School (math, French and Spanish). He met Ann Gregory on July 2, 1959 at a church dance and they married on July 2, 1960. They lived together happily in NDG for 52 years. Larry directed and produced many high school plans at Loyola including the musical Oliver Twist, Twelve Angry Men, Utter Relaxation, The Man Who Came to Dinner and the Mousetrap. Larry was very proud of his daughter Dr. Ann Christensen, entomologist and dean of science and technology at a community college in Tucson and his daughter Me Pauline Ascoli, a lawyer and member of the Quebec, Ontario and California bars. He was also immensely proud of his wife Ann who taught for several years and continues to do important community work in NDG. Larry was crazy about his grandchildren Zoë, Zachary, James, Emily and Cassie and he played with them for many hours at the cottage in St Calixte. He remained active until the age of 82: those who knew Larry Ascoli knew him will surely remember him with a hammer or saw in his hand, a pencil behind his ear, a badminton racket or baseball on hand ready to play, a quick step and a twinkle in his eye. He was always had a plan or was up to something. In his retirement, Larry volunteered as a handyman and did odd jobs at the homes of senior citizens. He also crafted wooden toys by hand and donated all profits to a rehabilitation centre. He pursued his volunteer work until the day before his sudden death after taking the bus to the Montreal General Hospital for an appointment. Larry Ascoli was a wonderful husband, father, teacher, handyman, volunteer and friend. He will be sadly missed and fondly remembered by all who knew him. May his wonderful lively spirit live on through his family and friends.