Orlando Vincent Cafasso, 90, of Gloucester, husband of Kathleen (Ryan) Cafasso passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on Tuesday, September 11, 2018 at his residence. He was born in Everett on September 16, 1927, son of the late Giovanni and Rosaria (Piantedosi) Cafasso. Vincent was a graduate of Everett High School, Class of 1946 and also of Boston University where he received his Bachelors, Masters and CAGS.
He proudly served in the United States Army during WWII and the Korean conflict. Vincent had a long career in education. He taught for two years in Ellington, Connecticut, before joining the Gloucester school system in 1954.
He first taught at the Central Grammar School and then joined the Beeman teaching staff in 1956, the year the school opened. Midway through his first year at Beeman, he was appointed principal of the Babson and Mt. Vernon Schools, the first of many dual principal positions.
When the Mt. Vernon School was sold to Our Lady of Good Voyage Church, he remained as principal of Babson and then inherited the Maplewood School. From there, he served as principal of Plum Cove School, the Plum Cove and Maplewood Schools, the Hovey and Forbes Schools, East Gloucester School, East Gloucester and Veterans’ Memorial Schools and finally the East Gloucester School.
Vincent is remembered as an advocate for all students and a strong supporter of education. Vincent belonged to multiple professional organizations. He was president of North Shore Elementary Principals Association, (1964-65), Massachusetts Elementary School Principals Association Board of Directors (1967), the Massachusetts Association of School Administrators, President (1970-71).
He also served on several commissions for the Massachusetts Department of Education; Massachusetts Advisory Council to the New England Principals Performance Certification Model 1975, Massachusetts Advisory Commission on Teacher Certification, 1974-78, Task Force on Development of Guidelines for Holiday Observances in the Public Schools. He was the Chair of the Gloucester School Safety Commission (1958-64) and a Corporator for the Sawyer Free Library. Vincent is remembered by many in the Gloucester community for his 1948 Mack fire engine, which he would drive in parades, around the neighborhood, and to his schools.
Vincent was honored by the American Red Cross for saving a five year old boy from a burning house on his street. He was also an active parishioner of Our Lady of Good Voyage Church and was a member of the Holy Name Society. He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.
He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Kathleen Cafasso of Gloucester; his daughters, Cynthia Cafasso Donaldson and her husband William, Carol Cafasso, Valerie Marino and her husband Joseph, all of Gloucester, Marie Royer and her husband Ralph of Santa Cruz, CA; his son, Robert Cafasso and his wife Syam of Weston, MA; grandchildren, Sarah Rose Cafasso, Joseph Marino, Angela Marino, Siena Royer, Sarah Ortins and her husband Brian, Andrew Donaldson and his wife Katherine, Neela Kiley and her husband Chris; great-grandchildren, Caroline Ortins, Samantha Ortins, Abigail Donaldson and Sadie Donaldson and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his infant sister, Angelina Cafasso; brothers Pellegrino, Roberto, William, and John Cafasso. His funeral mass will be celebrated in Our Lady of Good Voyage Church on Saturday, September 15th at 9:30 a.m. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend.
The burial will be held in Calvary Cemetery, Gloucester. Visiting hours in the Greely Funeral Home, 212 Washington Street, Gloucester will be held on Friday, September 14, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his name to the Gloucester Community Based Outpatient Clinic (Veteran’s Clinic), care of: Dr. Timothy Oman, 199 Main Street, Gloucester, MA 01930 or to the Gloucester Education Foundation, 185 Main Street, Gloucester, MA 01930. For online condolences, please visit www.
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