Teacher dies
From New Castle News
June 6, 2005
Christine Piccirillo, 85, of 556 Mount Jackson Road died the night of Saturday, June 4, 2005, in Jameson Hospital.
Born Jan. 16, 1920, in New Castle, she was a daughter of the late Lorenzo and Carmella Conti Perrotta.
She married Genero Piccirillo on Dec. 26, 1946. He survives.
Mrs. Piccirillo, who was known professionally as Mrs. Picrell, was a tireless and relentless educator who devoted her life to improving the quality of education in the New Castle area.
She graduated from Thiel College in 1941, where she was a member of Sigma Theta Phi Sorority and was “Miss Homecoming.” She received her master’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh, and continued to enhance her science knowledge with post-degree work at six major universities including the universities of Hawaii, Colorado and Rhode Island.
Her teaching career began in 1941 at the Mahoning School, where she taught general science, physical education and health. She eventually moved to the biology department at New Castle High School, where she served many years as the chairwoman of the department.
After retiring from the classroom in 1985, she was hired as a science consultant by the New Castle Area School District. She was heavily involved in establishing the science curriculum and conducted countless workshops for teachers and students.
She pioneered the “Fast Plants” program in the area and led environmental education through programs such as “Voyage of the Mimi,” which involved the studies of a group of scientists who observed humpback whales.
In 1990, she earned the Distinguished Service to Science Education Award from the National Science Teachers Association.
Mrs. Piccirillo, who finally retired in 2003, was an icon of the New Castle school system for more than 62 years. She once remarked, “Students used to say, ‘You had my mother in class.’ Now they say, ‘You had my grandmother in class.”
A Navy veteran of World War II, she served as a hospital apprentice first class at the Naval Hospital in Brooklyn, N.Y.
She was a member of St. Lucy Church of St.Vincent de Paul Parish.
In addition to her husband, survivors include a son and daughter-in-law, David and Theresa Piccirillo of Doylestown, Pa.; a sister, Imogene Nucci of New Castle; and two grandchildren, Robert and Laura.
She was preceded in death by three brothers, Samuel Perrotta, John Perrotta and Peter Perrotta; and two sisters, Rose Giuliano and Rachael Pagley.