Angelo J. (AJ) Asciolla, 96, passed peacefully in his sleep on September 30, at Hyder Hospice House in Dover, NH.. He was born September 10, 1913 , in Providence , RI , to Carmella (Volpigno) and Luca Asciolla.
Among his proudest accomplishments, AJ enjoyed operating The Lord Hampshire Motel and Cottages for over 55 years on Lake Winnisquam, NH, where he met notables and befriended many of his guests, including the late actor, Claude Rains.
AJ was not one to sit around and complain about situations. He believed in taking action and proved that one person can make a difference. Through a landmark decision of the State of New Hampshire Supreme Court in 1978, which swept across the United States, Angelo initiated the motor vehicle Lemon Law in his legal action against General Motors. Recently, he was thrilled to meet two young women who had been awarded new cars because of this precedent.
As Founding President of the NH Motel Association which, under his leadership, merged with the NH Hotel Association and became the NH Hotel-Motel Association. As President, of the new organization, he was instrumental in awarding scholarships to promising hospitality students, which then led to a hospitality department at UNH in the 1950s.
Concerned about algae in Lake Winnisquam, AJ filed a class action suit against the City of Laconia and succeeded in forcing it to improve its sewerage disposal plant. The EPA soon after forced all the cities and towns along the Merrimack River to follow suit, which resulted in the river becoming clean enough to swim in again.
The Depression caused him to leave high school to help support his mother and five siblings, but he later went on to take courses in drafting, designing, and aeronautics at Brown University. As a resourceful teenager, he raised rabbits for additional income. His skills as a finish carpenter-cabinetmaker were applied to building his family an aluminum house trailer, and to building and maintaining accommodations at his resort. During WWII, he had been selected to work with machinery 12 hours a day at Quonset Naval Air Station building Quonset Huts, and was an Air Raid Warden. At one point, he also worked at the Rhode Island ship yard.
After the War, AJ formed a partnership with his brother Victor to purchase a cabin colony on Lake Winnisquam and moved his young family to New Hampshire from Providence. The two families operated a small restaurant, built more cottages themselves and in 1957, he designed and built a motel. He was active locally as President of the Lions Club and in promoting the Lakes Region at trade shows. In 2001, at age 89, he sold the business and retired to Rye Beach to live closer to his daughter Jackie and her husband Stephen Gacek. He most recently enjoyed his retirement at Webster's at Rye where new friendships were formed.
AJ loved music and enjoyed playing the violin as a young man and, later, the accordion. His favorite pastimes were discussing politics, reading,and spending time with family. The lights of his life were his three granddaughters, Heidi, Stephanie, and Pam, and their children. A grandniece, Stephanie Warren, held a special place in his heart. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends. He was predeceased by brothers Victor Asciolla and James DiMarco and his wife of fifty-five years and business partner, Josephine (DeCellio) Asciolla.
AJ is survived by his daughters Jacqueline (Stephen) Gacek of Rye Beach and Sandra (Clifford) Richardson of Albuquerque; three devoted granddaughters, Pamela (Paul) Ruppa of Whitefish Bay, WI, Stephanie (William) Maxon of Bayside, WI, and Heidi (Thomas) Panosh of Milwaukee, WI; great-grandchildren, Claire and Connor Maxon, JoAnna and Anderson Ruppa; sisters Barbara (Anthony) George of Lincoln, RI, and Margaret LeBlanc of North Providence, RI; brother Mario Asciolla of Cranston, RI.; and many nieces and nephews.
A memorial service is being planned for June. Donations may be made to Hyder Hospice House, 285 County Farm Rd. Dover, NH, 03820 and Webster’s at Rye, 795 Washington Rd, Rye, NH. 03870. For online condolences please use the icon below.