George Joseph Puglisi

Educator and Italian American Advocate

George Joseph Puglisi, 92, of Stratford, born in Modica Sicily in 1913, one of the founding members of the Italian Community Center, a valuable member of the Council of Italian-American Societies and the Italian Scholarship Committee of the University of Bridgeport, and Italian American advocate, died October 27.

George is survived by his wife of 66 years, Mary Dattilo Puglisi; his daughter, Rosemary Carson and her husband, David, of Newtown; his son, Dr Horace Puglisi of Randolph, Vt.; four grandchildren, Janeanne Allard, Lori Rogers, Heather Puglisi, and Carrie Puglisi; five great-grandchildren, Brianna Allard, Jessica Allard, Abigail Rogers, Edmund Rogers, and Spencer Rogers; a niece, Roseann Fitzgerald; and beloved family and friends.

Mr Puglisi immigrated to the United States with his parents Orazio Puglisi and Rosa Stracquadanio Puglisi in 1919. He excelled as a student in the Bridgeport public schools graduating from Harding High School as Harding’s Poet. He earned his AA degree from the Junior College of Connecticut in 1935. In 1937, he received his BS degree from Columbia University and in 1946 earned his MA degree from Columbia University Teachers College. He had a long and distinguished career as an educator, beginning as an English and social studies teacher in the Stratford Public Schools beginning in 1940. Mr Puglisi served as a high school athletic director from 1942 to 1951 and supervisor of audiovisual education from 1951 to 1955. During this time George earned his Sixth Year Professional Degree from the University of Bridgeport in advanced professional studies in media. In 1955, he became the first audiovisual director for the Stratford Public Schools and from 1966 until his retirement in 1979, he was director of media and library services for the Stratford Public Schools. He was a past president of the Housatonic Teachers Federal Credit Union.

In addition to his extraordinary schedule, he taught Americanization classes and Italian language classes for the Stratford and Trumbull Adult Education Programs. He also taught media courses at Housatonic Community College and served the community as YMCA recreation director and camp director. As a dedicated professional educator, he was also active as a past president of the Connecticut Audio Visual Education Association, an active member of the Connecticut and National Education Associations, the National Association of Educational Communication and Technology and various retired teacher groups.

After retiring from public education, Mr Puglisi began a second career as travel agent for the Columbia Travel Agency as vice president in charge of sales and tours. As an inveterate traveler he crisscrossed the United States several times, toured nearly every country in Europe, the Caribbean, Central America, Canada, and the Soviet Union. He was an active member of the Stratford Rotary Club first chartered in April 1922.

Mr Puglisi may best be remembered for his untiring dedication to the Italian American community. His commitment and sense of duty to his ethnic heritage had always been an integral part of his life. He was a longtime member, past president, and secretary-treasurer of the Trinacria MA Society. He was a founder, past officer, and active participant of the Vizzo Memorial Scholarship Committee and past president and advisor to the University of Bridgeport Italian Graduate Scholarship Committee. He was involved in the educational and cultural programs of the National Italian American foundation.

Mr Puglisi had been always recognized as a stalwart in the Italian Community Center. He was named Man of the Year by the YMCA, received the Trinacria Civic Award in 1956 and was honored with the Star of Italian Solidarity from the Italian government in 1957. In 1977, he was named principal speaker at ceremonies honoring Christopher Columbus. In 1989, he was awarded the Columbus Civic Award. On September 25, 1995, Mr Puglisi was further honored as the recipient of the Cianci Humanitarian Award, one of the highest honors presented by the UNICO National Organization founded in Waterbury in 1922. UNICO’s motto is “Service Above Self,” a standard by which George Puglisi lived all of his professional and adult life.

Funeral services were held October 31 from the Abriola Parkview Funeral Home, Trumbull, and in Our Lady of Grace Church, Stratford, for a Mass of Christian Burial. Graveside committal services followed in St Michael Cemetery, Stratford.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Italian Scholarship Committee, c/o Meg Cooney, English Language Institute, University of Bridgeport, 126 Park Avenue, Bridgeport CT 06604.

The Newtown Bee      November 4, 2005