Paul Sasso, 76, of Almo, died unexpectedly on Wednesday March 26, 2025 at Baptist Health in Paducah during recovery from an open-heart surgery. His daughter, Maggie, was with him in his final moments. He had a metaphorical open-heart his entire life and loved and impacted many people across the world.
Paul Sasso was born in Canada, the son of Vic, a mason, and Dorothy, a semi-professional bowler. He spent a great portion of his childhood making things and daydreaming. After “flunking out of high school” (see daydreaming above), he worked in the auto industry for 4 years. When he came into some finances from winning a precedent-setting union court battle for having long hair in the workplace, he was able to “weasel {his} way” into art school in his hometown college, the University of Windsor where he worked with his friend and mentor Bill Law, receiving his BFA in painting and sculpture in 1978. He attended graduate school at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and graduated in 1981 with his MFA. He is Professor Emeritus from Murray State University where he taught woodworking for 27 years in the art department. During his tenure, he received several awards for teaching excellence and inspired many students to embark in a rewarding career of being a furniture artist.
He was renowned for creating impeccably crafted, heavily embellished and functional art pieces. His unique painting style was initially inspired by the car culture of 1970’s Detroit (think Ed Roth). His painted surfaces were achieved by applying hundreds of layers of transparent acrylic paint with a spray gun. This technique is documented in The Penland Book of Woodworking, Lark Books 2006, and his complete body of work is preserved on his website www.paulsassoart.com.
Paul and his late wife Sandy Sasso lived and worked at Sassoville, a compound of their own design and construction, near Almo, Kentucky. They shared a love for late Gothic and Early Renaissance art, Italian food, and travel. The acres of gardens include myriad topiaries constructed from 250+ boxwoods and are a study in proportion, design and the ability of nature to heal the mind and spirit.
Paul is preceded in death by his father, Victor Sasso, mother Dorothy (Barry) Sasso of Windsor, Ontario, wife Sandra Miller Sasso of Almo, KY, brother Bill Maskery and wife Marian Maskery of Windsor, Ontario.
He is survived by his daughter, Maggie Sasso-Jones, husband Benjamin Jones and granddaughter Margot Jones of Milwaukee, WI; brother Bob Sasso and wife Diane Sasso of Ontario; and David Sasso of Windsor, Ontario.
He wanted his epitaph to read “He never wore a suit.” His family is planning a Celebration of Life ceremony in the Fall.
Expressions of sympathy can be made by seeking inspiration, embracing laughter and exhibiting kindness to everyone.