Dylan Thomas Vassallo, 17, passed away suddenly on Tuesday, August 4, 2015 at his home in Holmdel. Dylan was entering his senior year of high school at Christian Brothers Academy in Lincroft. He served as an altar boy at St. Benedict’s of Holmdel for 8 years where he has been a lifelong communicant.
Dylan was an active volunteer and person of service in Holmdel and Honduras. He also served others at St. Benedicts and the CBA community.
Dylan was a 2015 American Legion Jersey Boys State Alumnus. A 7-year member of Boy Scout Troop 131, earning the badge of Life Rank. He was also a 3-year Ambassador at CBA, and captain and founding member of the CBA Jiu-Jitsu Team as well as a well respected and 3 year member of the CBA Crew team.
He was a volunteer for numerous organizations such as Students Helping Honduras, Family Promise, De La Salle Blackfeet School in Montana, Lunch Break in Red Bank, The Trulia Family Feast in Perth Amboy, The Schroth School for Special Needs in Wanamassa, Family Promise Cardboard Box City, CBA Hunger Banquet, CBA Thanksgiving Outreach, Holy Cross Youth Group, CBA Box City, winner of the 2014 CBA Murph challenge, The CBA Gauntlet, winner of the CBA 2015 Perseverance Award Jiu-Jitsu, St. Benedict Altar Server and CYO member, St. Benedict Hurricane Sandy Relief Team volunteer. A key employee of a local tech/marketing start-up company, who was a respected leader in the company. Dylan was a military buff and was pursuing the application process for admission to the USNA at Annapolis.
He was a gifted athlete, a talented writer, accomplished cook and an avid reader, just some of the outstanding qualities of this passionate being. He had a great zest for life and was always interested in learning about a variety of topics, mainly other people and cultures. He had a great sense of humor, a quick wit, charm and was a compassionate soul. He was good friend and neighbor to many. A wonderful son, brother and family member. A truly loving spirit who will be greatly missed by all who knew him, especially friends, neighbors and particularly his family who so deeply loved and cared for him.
He is predeceased by his paternal grandparents, Daniel and Charlotte Vassallo. Dylan is survived by his loving parents; Dennis and Danielle (Roggio) Vassallo; his two siblings, Julia and Dennis Vassallo; his maternal grandparents, Thomas and Alice Roggio and his great grandmother, Gloria Roggio, all of Staten Island. He is also survived by his aunts and uncles; Rhiana and Nicholas Nigro, Jeanine and Michael Licitra and Daniel and Lisa Vassallo of Staten Island, Rebecca and Sean Hegel of Manalapan, Dominic and Virginia Vassallo of Colts Neck and Diane and James Cavallaro of Freehold. Also surviving are his dear cousins; Daryl, Laura, Bryan, Brandon, Daniella, Daniel, Dominique, Michael, Sofia, Nicholas, Jake, Luca, Annabelle, Stella, and Scarlett. Dylan also leaves behind many loving grand aunts, uncles, cousins and extended family.
Visitation will be held at the John E. Day Funeral Home, 85 Riverside Avenue, Red Bank, NJ 07701 on Sunday, August 9th from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. and 5-8 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Benedict’s RC Church in Holmdel on Monday, August 10th at 10 a.m. Burial will follow at St. Gabriel’s Cemetery in Marlboro.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be sent in Dylan’s memory to:
The Wounded Warrior Project http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/
Students Helping Honduras http://ceciskids.org/
Please visit Dylan’s memorial website available at www.johnedayfuneralhome.com.
