OBITUARIES - 8/6/20

Aug. 1, 2020

Guy Grasso with his family during 2013 SSUSA HOF Induction Ceremony

Guy Grasso, 88, of Henderson, Nev., died on July 26.

Grasso was elected into the Senior Softball-USA (SSUSA) Hall of Fame in 2013 in the Player Category. His induction ceremony took place at the 2013 Southwest Championships.

A New Jersey native, Grasso earned a baseball scholarship to Stetson University and signed with the New York Yankees as a pitcher in September 1951.

Following a stint in the Army from 1952-54, Grasso spent five seasons (1954-58) within the Yankees farm system. He played with the Binghamton, Norfolk, Birmingham, and Sioux City affiliates.

After hurting his arm, Grasso became a fireman and eventually got back in the game with softball in 1985.

Grasso made his mark in senior softball winning world championships with the So Cal Knights, D-99, Texas Classics and Center for Sight. He last played SSUSA in 2017 with Jimmy’s Legends 85 and Scrap Iron Gray Berets 80.

During most of senior softball career, Grasso played with one kidney, had three major knee surgeries (including two new knees), a hip replacement and an implantable heart defibrillator, and diabetes.

Guy played in six international tours and was known as one of the most powerful hitters in each age group within which he competed.

“Both Guy and his wife Barb, who died a short time ago, were very good friends,” said Terry Hennessy, SSUSA CEO. They will be remembered by scores of international players and wives who shared adventures through the better part of a decade in tournaments in several countries.”

Nolan Spencer

Nolan Spencer, 67, of Cathedral City, Calif., died on July 22 due to COVID-19.

Spencer began playing SSUSA in 2007 with SoCal Knights 50, and most recently played with Top Gun Elite 65 in 2019. He’s also played with Over the Edge, Fountain Valley Outlaws, Desert Dawgs, Top Gun 55, Top Gun III, Top Gun Thunder, and Titans.

Spencer excelled on the field earning various All-Tournament accolades, including at the 2011 Spring World Champs, 2012 Spring Worlds and Southwest Champs, 2013 Southwest Champs, and 2014 TOC.

Ed Andrews

Ed Andrews, 71, of Telluride, CO, died on July 21 from cancer in Ocala, Fla, where he had been receiving treatment.

Well known in senior softball, Andrews was a rep for Dudley, Reebok, and Adidas, where he would be seen at major tournaments in Colorado, Nevada, and Florida selling bats.

Andrews last played in 2019 with the PDC Yankees. His lengthy senior softball resume includes teams from both coasts, such as Florida Mavericks, Old A’s, AZ Ancient, Enviro-Vac Marauder, High Desert Roadrunners, Rocky Mountain Extreme, Timberworks Construction, Scrap Iron Diamonds, Scrap Iron 65 Classics, One Time, Florida Merchants, AZ Rangers, Desperados, and Scrap Iron/Phiten, among others.

Roosevelt Jerrels

Roosevelt Jerrels, 88, of Costa Mesa, Calif., died on June 4.

Jerrels most recently played with Top Gun 80 Gold in 2019. He also played a number of years with Fairway Ford, as well as Joeseppi’s and Top Gun Jets.

Over his career, Jerrels earned numerous All-Tournament honors, including at the 2010 Rock ‘n Reno Challenge Cup, the 2014 Spring World, Southwest, and Western National Championships, and the 2016 Spring World Championships.
 

In Memorium

Jane Schwartz, wife of SSUSA member Ron Schwartz, died on June 20.