Ernest P. Hassey, 95, of North Dartmouth and Fairhaven, MA died Friday, September 18, 2020 at St Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford.
He was the husband of his dear wife, the late Helen Webster Hassey who died in 2012.
Born in New Bedford, Massachusetts on September 24, 1924, he was the son of Elias and Debi (Thomas) Hassey. He was the brother of the late Connie Kalife, Hassey E. Hassey, Joseph Hassey, Helen Badwey, Agnes Saba, and Phoebe Nasser.
Ernest lived in New Bedford in his early years then North Dartmouth, MA. As a boy he spent his summers in Fairhaven, MA at the family house in Winsegansett. After marrying Helen he lived in the house in Perryville.
Ernie was a star basketball player at Holy Family High School in New Bedford. A local sportswriter called him “the most sensational shooter in schoolboy ranks” while everyone who followed high school basketball in the early 1940s labeled him “the father of the one-hand shot.” His nickname was “Tally” because on the hardwood, no one was better at finding the mark than Holy Family’s Ernest Hassey!
Ernie was a Sergeant in the US Army during WWll. He was a member of the military police and small arms instructor.
He was an avid fisherman and could be found most weekends with family and friends on the “Cold Sweat” for fishing trips.
Ernie, his brother Hassey, and brother-in-law Alex Kalife, began the business of making aprons, “Hassey’s Frocks”, in the basement of the family home on State Street in New Bedford. Later they built Cape Cod Sportswear from a small shop on Sawyer Street in New Bedford to a major clothing contractor making sports jackets for manufacturers and stores throughout the country.
He is survived by two sons, Matthew Hassey of Bourne, MA and Lance Tribe of Bellingham, MA; two daughters-in-law, Susan Tribe and Lucy Hassey; grandchildren Christopher Tribe of Coral Springs, Florida, Ashley Gallagher of Duxbury, MA, and Sara Clark of Washington, DC; nephews Joseph Hassey, the late Paul Hassey, Alex Kalife, Louie Badwey, the late John Badwey, Mark Badwey, James Nasser, Edward Nasser; nieces Joanne Kalife Platt, Marcia Nasser McCormick, Maureen Saba Isidoro and Joan Saba Joseph; great nephews Alexander Kalife, Kyle Nasser, Danny Isidoro, Michael Isidoro, the late Christopher Morra; great nieces Elizabeth Kalife, Sabrina Badwey Kaplan, Stephanie Badwey Jadelrab, Julia Nasser, Laura Nasser, Jennie McCormick, and Katherine Isidoro Grant.
He also had seven great-grandchildren who were all very dear to him: Benjamin Tribe, Kylie Gallagher, Elizabeth Gallagher, Jenna Gallagher, Joshua Gallagher, Nathaniel Clark and Aria Clark.
According to Ernie’s wishes a memorial is planned to celebrate his amazing life for close family and friends next summer. It shall be complete with honor guard to commemorate his military service.