Alfred "Al" Morasso

Alfred Morasso, Jr., 94, Veteran; Retired Ocean Marine Shipping Executive

Alfred "Al" Morasso, Jr., 94, of Somerset, NJ, formerly of Westfield passed away on June 16, 2021.
Born in New York City on April 8, 1927, to the late Capt. Alfred O. and Rosetta (Mildred) Morasso, Al spent his early years in West Orange, NJ and graduated from West Orange High School in 1945 as Acting President of his senior class. He played on the varsity football and baseball teams and was later inducted into the West Orange Athletic Hall of Fame.
In 1948, Al graduated from the US Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point, NY with a BS in Marine Transportation, a Third Mates License, and an Ensign commission in the US Naval Reserve.
He then served as a Deck Officer for Moore-McCormack Lines and Marine Transport Lines and circumnavigated on the USNS Mission San Carlos. During the Korean Conflict, he served in the US Navy on the USS Gunston Hall (LSD-5) as Operations Officer and Navigator, participating in the Inchon, Wonsan, and Hungnam landings and redeployment. He spent 16 years in the Naval Reserve retiring with the rank of Commander.
After release from active duty, Al obtained his Unlimited Masters License and spent the next forty years ashore in various senior Operations and Chartering capacities with Marine Transport Lines, Marcona, Inc., and retired in 1992 as Vice President-Charting from Maritime Overseas Corporation in New York City. Al obtained his MBA from New York University. From 2003 until 2006, he also served as President of the Circumnavigators Club, in New York City.
In addition to his parents, his brother Everett DuVal predeceased him.
Surviving are his loving wife of 67 years, Mary Elizabeth (Betty Plested); children and spouses, Janet (Bruce Shrake), Nancy (John Reger), Alfred (Kristine), Margaret (Joseph Dunn), and James (Charlotte); ten grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.
A memorial service will be held at 2pm on Saturday, July 10, at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 414 East Broad Street, Westfield, NJ with interment to follow in The Garth. In lieu of flowers, contributions to the United States Merchant Marine Academy Alumni Association and Foundation, Inc., Kings Point, NY
https://www.usmmaalumni.com/s/1860/18/interior.aspx?sid=1860&gid=2&pgid=489
or to St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Friends of Music, Westfield, NJ https://stpaulswestfield.org/give/ in his memory would be appreciated.
Arrangements are by Gray Funeral Home, 318 E. Broad Street in Westfield. Please go to: www.grayfuneralhomes.com to offer condolences.