Carmine Cassese, owner of MVR dies

[Billy Mumphrey]

That was the longest funeral procession I have every seen. It went from the top of the Market Street bridge to the old South High School.

[iwasthere]

i attended the funeral Mass for carm an emotional two hrs service, today. he was well respected by the entire community tht were people from all walks of life. his action throughout his life showed through literally to a packed church busting out of its seams. twelve priests and bishop murray were in attendance to celebrate his life and mourn his early departure from this world.

[iwasthere]

a true frd of the community. he and his family never said, no when it came to donating food for any dt events that was hosted by the drc.

[Billy Mumphrey]

He always greeted you with a smile and hello when you walked into the MVR. Not many owners do that nowadays.

[Towntalk]

Vindicator article:


http://www.vindy.com/news/2013/jun/30/cassese-mourned-as-y-town-originalsflb/

[Towntalk]

Obituary


http://www.rossisantuccifh.com/fh/obituaries/obituary.cfm?o_id=2136659&fh_id=12439

[Towntalk]

A well-known Youngstown businessman and member of the Youngstown State University community passed away Friday night.
Carmine Cassese, 57, lost his battle with pancreatic cancer.
For many years, Cassese was the head equipment manager for Youngstown State University Athletics, a post he began in the early 1980′s. He retired from that position in February of 2012. Cassese and his family run the MVR in Youngstown's Smoky Hollow neighborhood, a business that's been in the city since 1927. He was a Ohio State University graduate and one of the biggest Y.S.U. Penguin fans around. The MVR is known for its great food, sports memorabilia highlighting both Ohio State and Y.S.U., and some of the best bocce courts in the area.
After Cassese was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year, his friends and family helped start a fundraising effort behind the name "Carmstrong" to raise money for pancreatic cancer research.
One picture brings back thousands of memories for John Murphy.
"When I think of Carmine, he just brings a smile to your face," said Murphy. "Everybody was his friend. He treated everybody like that."
Murphy is just one of thousands here in Youngstown mourning the loss of Carmine Cassese, owner of Cassese's MVR.
Cassese died after a nearly five month-long battle with pancreatic cancer. The 57-year-old was also Youngstown State's equipment manager for over two decades and a part of all four national football championships.
"He spent everyday, all day long, full days, making other people's lives better," said Jim Tressel.
"He loved Youngstown State and Youngstown State football, and Youngstown State loved him back. He was just a great human being," said Bob Hannon, YSU football play-by-play announcer.
His giving spirit touched everyone who walked through the doors at the MVR. No matter what the circumstance, Cassese was always stopping at a table to see how the day was going.
"The Cassese family and Carm, they're what Youngstown is all about. Hard working people that came over here to start a life. Italian Americans that now have a great place in the city because of their hard work, because they care about people," said State Sen. Joe Schiavoni, D-Canfield.
"He was a great friend and tremendous family man. He was someone who touched a lot of people's lives," said Bo Pelini.
"We've all been touched by him. We'll all try to see if we can be half the man he was," said Tressel.
Schiavoni added, "But I'll tell you there won't be a day that goes by where somebody is not telling a story about him or telling a story about something he did to help someone else."
The annual bocce tournament at MVR will still take place as scheduled, it's set to start at 3 p.m. on Sunday.
Calling hours for Cassese are scheduled for Monday from 1 to 7 p.m., at Rossi-Santucci Funeral Home, 4700 Market Street in Boardman. The funeral will take place Tuesday morning at 10:30 a.m. at Saint Dominic Church, 77 E. Lucius Avenue, Youngstown.