Ph.D., an author, scholar and professor, died on Sunday, July 15, at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital after a short illness. Paolucci was the author of over 20 books of plays, short stories, novels, poetry and essays. In memory of her late husband, Dr. Henry Paolucci, she edited over 30 of his books. Her last book, completed weeks before her death, was “Henry Paolucci-A Conservative for All Seasons,” a history of Henry’s work as a founder of the New York State Conservative Party and his run for the United States Senate in 1964. Anne Paolucci was born in Rome, Italy in 1926 and settled with her family in New York at the age of eight. She attended New York public schools, Barnard College and Columbia University, where she won the first Woodbridge Honorary Fellowship, Department of English for her Ph.D. on Dante and Spenser. She was a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Rome and returned to Italy as a Fulbright Lecturer in American Drama at the University of Naples. A guest of the Australian National University’s Research Centre in 1979, she also visited Yugoslavia at the invitation of that government and lectured extensively there as well as in Canada, England, Italy, Austria and the United States. She taught at The City College (CUNY) before joining the faculty of St. John’s University in New York as its first University Research Professor. Dr. Paolucci wrote extensively on Pirandello, ancient and modern drama, Hegel, “Theater of the Absurd,” Edward Albee, and Shakespeare. Her book, “From Tension to Tonic: The Plays of Edward Albee,” remains a classic in the field. “Edward Albee: The Later Plays,” was published in 2010. “Pirandello’s Theater: The Recovery of the Modern Stage for Dramatic Art,” was published in 1974. Her translation of Machiavelli’s masterpiece, “Mandragola” (with Henry Paolucci), in print since 1957, has gone through more than 40 printings. In 2002 she published translations of the poems of Giacomo Leopardi, a work which won her recognition and a cash prize from the Italian Government. In 1970, she was founder and president of Council on National Literatures, a non-profit educational foundation dedicated to promoting
the expansion of comparative literary studies. For 32 years she continued to edit the Review of National Literatures (1970-2001) and, later, CNL/World Report (1976-2001). In 1986, President Ronald Reagan appointed her to the Council on the Humanities, where she continued to serve under the administrations of Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton. She was chosen by Gov. George Pataki in 1996 to serve on the Board of Trustees of The City University of New York (The second largest university system in the USA.) and in 1997 was named Chairwoman of the Board, a position from which she resigned in 1999 to devote her time to writing and publishing. Paolucci has been honored with the title of “commendatore” (Legion of Merit) by the Italian government and in 2008 received the Lifetime Achievement Award and Gold Medal of New York State Senate as well as Recognition by the New York City Council. She was the first recipient of the National Elena Cornaro Award (OSIA, 1993) as well as the prestigious Golden Lion Award (Order Sons of Italy in America, 1997). Paolucci is survived by niece, Azar Attura and nephews and nieces, her dear friends, Dolores Frank Cohen and Barney Cohen, Clara Sarrocco and Constance and Serphin Maltese. Her husband predeceased her in 1999. A wake was held for Paolucci on Wednesday, July 18, at Frederick Funeral Home, 192-15 Northern Blvd., Flushing. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held this morning, Thursday, July 19, at 9:30 a.m. at St. Luke’s Church, Whitestone. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to either The Fellowship of Catholic Scholars, or to Christ the King Regional High School, at 68-02 Metropolitan Ave., Middle Village, NY 11379.
IREMEN KEMPERLE died on
Saturday, July 14, at the age of 79. A
native of Morobitz, Gottschee, she
was the loving wife of Rudolph,
beloved mother and mother-in-law
of Mary Ellen and Paul Ferman and
Timothy and Tricia Kemperle, devoted grandmother of Paul Ferman
and Jack and Avery Kemperle and
loving sister of Ellen Breckley and
Steven Harden. A Mass of Christian
Burial will be offered today, Thursday, July 19, at St. Pancras Church,
Glendale, followed by a private cremation and a burial of cremated remains at St. Charles Cemetery,
Farmingdale, L.I., under the direction of Schwille Funeral Home, 66-
32 Myrtle Ave., Glendale.
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JOSEPH W. WERKMEISTER of
Middle Village died on Sunday, July
8, at the age of 77. A proud veteran
of the U.S. Army, he was the beloved
husband of Lucille, devoted mother
of Dorothy Werkmeister and Joanne
Jaworski, cherished grandfather of
Daniel Jaworski and great-grandfather of Conner. Services were offered at Hess-Miller Funeral Home,
64-19 Metropolitan Ave., Middle
Village, by Pastor Terrence L.
Weber, followed by interment at All
Faiths Cemetery, Middle Village.
MICHAEL CARDOZA of Hollis
died on Monday, July 9, at the age of
57. A native of Ridgewood, he was
the beloved husband of Evelyn (nee
Ortiz), devoted father of Jasmine and
Heather and dear brother of Darrell
and Darcy Faro. A Mass of Christian
Burial was offered at St. Matthias
Church, Ridgewood, followed by interment at St. Charles Cemetery,
Farmingdale, L.I., under the direction of Peter J. Geis Funeral Home,
57-34 Catalpa Ave., Ridgewood.
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PATRICIA FRANCES FAGAN
died on Friday, July 13, at the age of
75. She was the beloved sister of
Robert Fagan, dear companion of
Edith Giustiniani and a cherished
aunt to many nieces and nephews. A
Mass of Christian Burial was offered
on Monday, July 16, at Our Lady of
Hope Church, Middle Village, followed by entombment at Pinelawn
Memorial Park, Farmingdale, L.I.,
under the direction of Papavero Funeral Home, 72-27 Grand Ave.,
Maspeth.
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HILDA JAKLITSCH of Ridgewood died on Saturday, July 14, at
the age of 81. A native of Gottschee,
Yugoslavia, she was the sister of
Olga, Frieda, Marie, Herbert and
Richard. She is also survived by
many nieces and nephews. Services
were offered at Morton Funeral
Home/Ridgewood Chapels, 663
Grandview Ave., Ridgewood, followed by interment at Cypress Hills
Cemetery.
DR. ANGELINA GRAMMATICO
of Ridgewood died on Monday, July
9, at the age of 86. She was a native
of Brooklyn. A Mass of Christian
Burial was offered at Our Lady of the
Miraculous Medal Church, Ridgewood, followed by interment at All
Faiths Cemetery, Middle Village,
under the direction of Morton Funeral Home/Ridgewood Chapels,
663 Grandview Ave., Ridgewood.
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OCTAVIAN GEORGESCU of
Ridgewood died on Monday, July 9,
at the age of 79. A native of
Bucharest, Romania, he was the
beloved husband of Elena and devoted father of Mihail Georgescu and
Florin Georgescu. Services were offered at the Descent of the Holy
Spirit Romanian Orthodox Church,
Ridgewood, followed by interment at
Linden Hill Cemetery, Ridgewood,
under the direction of Morton Funeral Home/Ridgewood Chapels,
663 Grandview Ave., Ridgewood.
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MAUREEN D. VAN NOSTRAND
of Bear, De. died on Wednesday,
June 27, at the age of 65. A native of
Brooklyn, she was the wife of the
late Earl and devoted mother of Scott
Van Nostrand and Steven Van Nostrand. She is also survived by four
grandchildren. Services were offered
at Morton Funeral Home/Ridgewood
Chapels, 663 Grandview Ave.,
Ridgewood, followed by interment at
Long Island National Cemetery,
Farmingdale, L.I.
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