Obituary: Martin P. Carlassare | Beloved South Pasadena Resident & Civil Engineer Passes Away

Martin Peter Carlassare, age 86, passed away peacefully and comfortably on Saturday, May 2, 2026. A resident of the South Pasadena, California area since 1962, Marty was born at Roseland Community Hospital in Chicago, Illinois. He was the “Sonny Boy” of the late Italo Carlassare and Alice Carollo. He attended Gompers Elementary School and Fenger High School also in the Roseland neighborhood of Chicago. With the exception of being quarantined for 6 months with polio, he had an idyllic childhood, surrounded by a large extended family and was granted the freedom to roam the neighborhood and play with friends until dinner time.

The first in his family to attend college, Marty graduated from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering (specializing in Construction Engineering) in 1962. After graduating, he made a road trip to booming Southern California with five close friends from college where they launched their careers.

Marty worked for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Los Angeles District) for 30 years as a Civil Engineer and later as Chief of Design Section A from 1962 to his retirement in 1993. He had good mentors and friends at the Corps who encouraged him to earn his Master’s degree. Marty returned to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign for one year, earning a Master’s degree in Civil Engineering (specializing in Soil Mechanics) in 1965. During his career with the Corps, he was a standout member of the Engineering Division where he shaped vital infrastructure and civil works projects, including dams, flood control and river channels, and reservoirs. He was proud that the projects he led came in on-time and under-budget. He loved the camaraderie of the office and made lifelong friends with many of his colleagues.

In his free time, Marty enjoyed playing golf, eating pizza, playing games with his friends and family, going to the racetrack, and treasure hunting at garage sales. He was a good Italian cook and could make gnocchi, risotto, and ravioli from scratch, just like his mom. He loved movies, especially those from the Golden Age of Hollywood, and was a true movie buff. Among his favorite films were The Maltese Falcon, Casablanca, Chicago, and Who Framed Roger Rabbit.

He was a lifelong collector, enjoying the thrill of the hunt, with interests ranging from ancient coins to Disney collectibles to baseball cards. Above all, he enjoyed spending time with friends and family, telling stories, reminiscing, and having a good laugh. He didn’t take life too seriously and he could find humor in any situation. He delighted in his own humor so much that he would make himself laugh as he told a story or crafted a comeback, which in turn would make those listening laugh even more.

He was a devoted father to his three daughters: Andrea, Beth, and Cathy Carlassare (who he liked to refer to using the shorthand “ABC”). He was once married to their mother, Cynthia Conant, who remained his life-long friend and neighbor. He was “Grandpa Pizza” to five grandchildren: Addison Perry (age 24), Ava Perry (age 18), and Mia Perry (age 16), Milo Carmel (age 4), and Luca Carmel (age 2). He was the brother of the late Geraldine Fugger of Lansing, Illinois and was “Uncle Martin” to many in Chicago.

He was an example of how a kind heart, a good sense of humor, and hard work can truly make a positive difference in the world.